Notice is hereby given that the Welsh Ministers intend to introduce legislation in accordance with section 140(1) (c) and (d), (3)(a), (c) and (d) and (9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and section 62(2) of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, to prohibit the sale or supply of single-use vapes in Wales.

Breach of this prohibition is an offence. Where an offence has been committed the regulator will be able to rely on criminal and civil sanctions available under the new legislation. The latter includes a mix of fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties, compliance notices, stop notices, non-compliance penalties and enforcement undertakings. The level of the variable monetary penalty will be determined by the regulator.

It is anticipated that these Regulations will come into force on 1 April 2025.

The draft legislation is available to view on the Welsh Government website here: https://www.gov.wales/environmental-protection-single-use-vapes-wales-regulations-2024

Alternatively, a hard copy can be requested free of charge from the Environmental Protection Team, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

Any person may make representations on the draft regulation in writing. Any such representations should be made by 26 July 2024 to the Environmental Protection Team, Environmental Protection Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ by email via EnvironmentalProtectionDivision@gov.wales