SBC urge retailers to prepare for tobacco and vaping law changes
Scottish Borders Council urges retailers to prepare for upcoming UK tobacco and vaping law changes, including a new vaping duty and age restrictions.Summary
Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Trading Standards is urging retailers in the Borders to prepare for major changes to tobacco and vaping laws under the UK Government's Tobacco and Vapes Act. Councillor Robin Tatler, executive member for public safety and resilience, emphasised the importance of protecting children and young people from tobacco, vaping, and nicotine harms, and encouraged retailers to update systems, staff training, and age-verification procedures without delay.
The first change took effect on October 1 with the introduction of the Vaping Products Duty, a UK-wide duty of £2.20 per 10ml on all vaping liquid, regardless of nicotine strength or origin. From January 1, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. A broader set of changes from October 29 includes banning the sale of nicotine pouches and other nicotine products to under-18s, prohibiting free distribution of vapes and nicotine products, and banning vending machine sales of nicotine products. Scotland's Register of Tobacco and Vaping Product Retailers will also expand to cover nicotine and herbal smoking products, with extended age-verification requirements.
Cllr Tatler urged retailers to familiarise themselves with the new requirements now rather than waiting until enforcement, and SBC will continue to provide advice and support for compliance.
(Source：Border Telegraph)
