A national ban on single use vapes will come into force on 1 June.

The council’s trading standards team is warning businesses to sell off their stock of single use vapes now, and stop buying more, or risk them being seized after the ban is in place. Retailers can also ask their suppliers for sale or return on stock before 1 June.

Anything that cannot be replaced when it runs out, means that it would be a banned disposable / single use vape. This includes if there is no battery recharge, no e-liquid replacement and no heat coil replacement.

If you can charge it, but not refill it, or refill it, but not recharge it, then it is considered single use and will be banned.

The national ban is designed to stop so much plastic and battery waste. Vapes are often discarded as litter or put in residential waste, which is a fire risk. The components of vapes are not easily recyclable, so by only having reusable vapes available, the aim is to reduce the waste and risk to the environment.

Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for equalities, public health and public protection, said: “For the past few weeks, our trading standards team have been out visiting local shops who sell vapes to advise them of the new legislation and to encourage them to stop stocking single use vapes in advance.

“For anyone who purchases a single use vape before the ban, or has a stockpile at home, they can still use them. It is only the selling of single use vapes after 1 June which is against the law.”

Vapes aren’t only sold in vape shops. There are often stands with vape products in totally unrelated stores, but the law applies to everyone, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and importers.

Shops can find full guidance on the gov.uk website. If a product is not on this list, after the ban date, then it is not legal to sell.