Illegal vapes/e-cigarettes

Single-use vapes ban (1 June 2025)

From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or 'disposable' vapes. This applies to:

sales online and in shops
all vapes whether or not they contain nicotine

Please see the full GOV.UK guidance on the single-use vape ban (opens new window).

The key definitions of re-useable are as below:

have a battery you can recharge
be refillable with vape liquid
if the vape has a coil, it must be one that can be replaced by an average user - this includes any part of the product that heats or generates a vapour when interacting with the product's ingredients

The vape may be refilled by either:

filling up the tank or cartridge with e-liquid
inserting new pre-filled pods
refills (pods or vape liquid refill bottles) should be separately available for users to buy

If the vape has a coil, it may be replaced by either:

removing and replacing it
removing and replacing a pod or tank that contains it
the coil (whether part of a replacement pod or tank, or not) should be separately available to buy

What to do if you have stock of single-use vapes?

If you still have single-use vapes in your possession from 1 June 2025, you will not be able to sell or supply them to customers. You'll need to arrange for these vapes to be recycled. If you have vape bin services, you should do this through the company they provide - you may need to pay a fee. If you do not responsibly recycle single-use vape stocks by 1 June 2025, you'll put your business at risk of commercial loss and legal enforcement action.

To prepare for the ban, you should:

stop buying new stock of single-use vapes
sell through all existing stock
buy vapes that follow the new regulations From 1 June 2025

If you possess any leftover single-use vaping products, you'll need to:

separate them from other goods
label them as unsellable
remove them from your shop floor or online store until they've been collected by a registered vape recycling service

The rules on vaping and reporting underage or illegal vapes

Vapes are regulated in the UK - it is illegal to sell nicotine-containing vaping products to anyone under 18 years old or for adults to buy them for those under 18 years old.

Sunderland Trading Standards regulate the selling of vapes to under 18-year-olds and the sale of non-compliant vapes to all individuals.

Actions can be taken against any trader selling vapes to underage customers or selling illegal products, including seizing products, written warnings to retailers and formal criminal investigations.

Find out more about vaping (opens new window), including what it is and frequently asked questions.

How to report underage sales

If you have any information about the sale of a vape to anyone under 18, please report it:

Report an underage sale

Illegal vapes

Vapes are regulated in the UK, with specific rules that must be stuck to. But how do we know if a vape is legal or not?

To be legally sold in the UK, nicotine containing vapes must:

Contain 20 mg/ml or less of nicotine (equivalent to 2% or less)
Not have a capacity of more than 2ml in a single use cartridge
Carry the health warning 'This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.'
Be notified to the MHRA and listed on its website

If you are aware of illegal vapes being sold, please report it:

Report the sale of illegal vapes/e-cigarettes

How to easily spot illegal vapes and vape products

Check the number of puffs printed on the vape/label
- the maximum tank size is 2ml. This is equivalent to 600-650 puffs for disposables. Products advertising significantly more usage than this are illegal
Check the health warnings
- in the UK the warning must cover 30% of the front and back of the pack
- the health warning must read "This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance". Use of the word 'chemical' is only used in the USA market. In the UK we use 'substance'.
Check for nicotine content
- the product must indicate the nicotine content and delivery per dose
- the maximum e-liquid capacity is 2ml
- the maximum nicotine strength is 20mg (2%)
Check the manufacturers details
- the vape packaging must contain the manufacturer or importer name and contact details
- the manufacturer or importer must be registered on the MHRA website