Wales: Lawmakers Call for Ban on Single-Use Vapes

The Welsh government is calling for a ban on disposable single-use vapes, according to media reports. The move would be “part of a suite of measures to address youth vaping”, Welsh ministers said.

The Welsh government does not have the power to prohibit the vapes, but is calling on the UK government to do so. The UK Vaping Industry Association said banning disposable vapes was “not the answer” and instead called for action against retailers who sold the products to under-18s.

Calls for a ban have been supported by the wildlife charity RSPCA Cymru, which says discarded vapes contain materials and poisonous substances including plastic, lithium and nicotine, which are all hazardous to animals.

Wales joins lawmakers in Scotland and England in calling for a ban on disposable vaping products.

The UK Vaping Industry Association’s director general, John Dunne, said banning the products could lead to black markets and increased smoking rates, leaving more people at risk.

“We’ve always acknowledged that the issues of youth vaping and environmental impact of vapes need to be tackled,” he said. “However, it is clear that significantly increased enforcement is required against retailers who sell to minors.”