Single-use vapes will be illegal to sell across the United Kingdom from 1 June 2025.
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards team is urging local businesses to prepare now.
The ban applies to any vape that cannot be refilled or recharged.
Whether sold in shops or online, all disposable vapes will be outlawed.
Retailers are being told to check their stock, sell off existing products, and avoid buying more.
Only reusable, compliant vapes will be permitted under the new law.
Businesses must also train staff and ensure unsold single-use vapes are properly disposed of.
From June, simply possessing disposable vapes for sale will be a criminal offence.
Trading Standards officers will be carrying out checks and have the power to seize illegal products.
Fines for breaching the law could reach £5000 and include a fixed penalty of at least £200.
The move follows growing concern over the environmental and safety risks of single-use vapes.
Each week, nearly five million of them are either littered or tossed into general waste across the UK.
Batteries inside these vapes can leak dangerous chemicals into the environment.
They are also a major fire hazard in rubbish trucks and recycling centres.
David MacKenzie, Highland Council’s Trading Standards Manager, fully backs the change.
He said the legislation is a vital step towards protecting public health and the environment.
Single-use vapes are a regular cause of litter in streets, parks, and public spaces.
They are also difficult to recycle and often end up polluting landfills.
By banning them, the government aims to promote safer and more sustainable vaping alternatives.
Businesses are encouraged to only deal with trusted suppliers who follow the rules.
Unsold disposable vapes must be stored separately from other goods and clearly marked for disposal.
They should not be visible to customers or mistaken as items still for sale.
DEFRA has published a full guide for retailers, outlining what is banned and how to comply.
This guide includes detailed instructions on what qualifies as a single-use vape and what doesn’t.
Highland businesses needing help can contact Trading Standards for advice or visit the council’s website.
The countdown is on, and businesses have just weeks left to act.
Failing to prepare now could lead to serious consequences come summer.
