How is the Welsh Government ensuring regulations on vaping products are enforced, following the recent ASH Wales Youth Vaping Survey which showed 55 per cent of pupils that vape were using likely illegal, unregulated products containing over 600 puffs?
I welcome the publication of the ASH Wales survey of public opinion on tobacco control in Wales. It is encouraging to see that there is clear support for tighter controls on vapes, including support for our planned ban on single use vapes from April 2025.
Vapes should never be used by children, young people and non-smokers however we know they are being actively targeted at them. We are working closely with the other UK governments to tackle youth vaping and to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. If the Bill is passed, the Welsh Government continue to work with the other UK nations to develop the details of the regulations that will restrict the flavours and contents of vapes, their retail packaging and the point of sale displays so that we can prevent these products being obtained and use by children in Wales. The measures will be subject to further consultation and analysis ahead of their introduction and we will ensure we work with stakeholders so that they have time to prepare before the new controls come into effect.
I am also deeply concerned about reports of illicit vapes – not only in relation to underage sales of products to children but also regarding the safety and quality of some products which have been found to contain contaminants like lead and higher than permitted levels of nicotine. We are supporting Trading Standards Wales to tackle this issue so that they can take rigorous enforcement action and deal with the illegal market. We are also looking to strengthen the enforcement tools available in Wales and enable enforcement authorities to issue fixed penalty notices of £100 for the underage sale of tobacco and vaping products. These measures, which also form part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, will enable enforcement teams to take swifter action and issue on-the-spot fines to retailers, instead of needing to take action through the courts.