Glasgow-based wholesaler JW Filshill has urged its retailers to take urgent action and ensure they have cleared out all remaining single-use vapes ahead of the ban on 1 June.
To support retailers in navigating the new regulations, JW Filshill has published a guidance document compiled by Derek Cowan, its category manager for tobacco and vaping.
From June, retailers with single-use vapes in stock will be prohibited from selling them and must ensure these products are safely disposed of. Failure to comply could result in legal consequences, including fixed monetary penalties starting at £200. These may be reduced if paid within 28 days.
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Repeat offences could lead to further enforcement, including stop notices which would prevent businesses from selling any vaping products. Larger fines and even a potential prison sentence may also be imposed.
Cowan said: “Retailers should start transitioning their stock now, reducing the number of disposable vapes on sale and keeping on the fastest-selling lines. They should start moving towards compliant, rechargeable vaping products to continue meeting consumer demand, while following upcoming legal guidelines.
“As a responsible wholesaler, it’s important that we communicate to our retailers when they should transition from non-compliant to compliant SKUs as unfortunately ranges are transitioning at different times – and also what the optimum range and planogram they should execute going forward.”
Cowan confirmed that all stock supplied by JW Filshill will be compliant with the new legislation by the end of April.
