The UK is introducing a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. It will come into effect on 1 June 2025

The UK will introduce a ban on the sale and supply of disposable e-cigarettes. It will come into effect on 1 June 2025. The British government explains that the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes will prevent environmental pollution and protect the health of children and young people.

The ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes is currently only in England

The proposal to ban disposable e-cigarettes was presented in January by the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak. However, it did not manage to push through the relevant law before the election. After taking power in July, the Labour Party announced that it would implement the project.

The ban announced on Thursday applies only to England, as health care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the local authorities. However, the government in London announced that it would talk to the authorities of the remaining parts of the United Kingdom about coordinating the implementation of the ban, and the Welsh government has already announced that it will adopt similar regulations.

This is not the end of changes to the e-cigarette ban. Deputy Minister reveals when the next

Nicotine-free e-cigarettes will be permitted from the age of 18. On Monday, a draft bill on this subject was added to the list of legislative and programmatic works of the Council of Ministers.

E-cigarettes difficult to recycle

The British government explains in a statement that disposable e-cigarettes are difficult to recycle and usually end up in landfills, where their batteries can cause harmful substances to leak into the environment. Even when they are sent to recycling plants, they usually have to be disassembled by hand, which is a slow and difficult process.

The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates that last year almost 5 million disposable e-cigarettes were thrown out on the streets or thrown into general waste each week, which is almost a four-fold increase compared to the previous year. In 2022, e-cigarettes containing a total of over 40 tons of lithium were thrown out, which would be enough to power 5,000 electric vehicles.

E-cigarettes harmful especially to children and adolescents

Attention was also drawn to the harmful effects of these products on health, especially children and adolescents. The sale of e-cigarettes to people under 18 is prohibited, but in practice they have no problem buying them, and as the previous government emphasized, cheap e-cigarettes sold in colorful packaging are aimed at young people and are responsible for an "alarming increase in their use". According to public consultations conducted in February, 69 percent of respondents support banning disposable e-cigarettes.