Prohibition of the sale and supply of single-use vapes Full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment
Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for the proposed prohibition on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland.
Footnotes
1 Use of e-cigarettes among adults in Great Britain. ASH England, 2023
2 The Scottish Health Survey 2022 – volume 1: main report. Scottish Government, 2023
3 Trends in electronic cigarette use in Scotland. Smoking in Scotland portal. Updated 18 January 2024.
5 Vaping – Effectiveness as a cessation tool: evidence briefing. Scottish Government, 2024
6 Vaping – Health harms: evidence briefing. Scottish Government, 2024
7 ibid
8 ibid
9 Use of e-cigarette (vapes) among adults in Great Britain. ASH England, 2023
10 50% of users mainly used an ‘electronic cigarette that is rechargeable and has a tank or reservoir that you fill with liquids’ and 17% of users mainly used an ‘electronic cigarette kit that is rechargeable with replaceable pre-filled cartridges’.
11 Vapes that are rechargeable and not refillable or that are refillable and not rechargeable, are still considered disposable or ‘single-use’ even though the lifetime of the vape can be extended through refilling or recharging it.
12 Analysis of the Market for Vapes, Eunomia 2023
13 Eunomia (2023), Analysis of the Market for Vapes: Exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes, https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21447
14 Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain. ASH England, 2023,
15 Vaping addiction soon takes hold. NHS Inform campaign, access online 15 March 2024
17 Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain. ASH, 2023
18 Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain, ASH, 2023
19 Use of e-cigarette (vapes) among adults in Great Britain. ASH, 2023
20 Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Material Focus media release, 2023
21 Over 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres are caused by batteries many of which are hidden inside electricals. Material Focus, 2022,
22 Youth vaping: call for evidence. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, 2023,
23 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes Hogg, D., 2023,
24 , Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Material Focus, 2023
25 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes. Hogg, D., 2023,)
26 Dismantling a growing problem. Valpak, 2023,
27 Disposable vapes – a challenge to the recycling sector, IEMA, 2022,
28 Analysis of the Market for Vapes, Eunomia, 2023
29 Agency sets out vapes recycling stance, WastePack, 2023
30 Resilience for the Future: The UK’s Critical Raw Materials Strategy
31 The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions, World Energy Outlook. International Energy Agency, 2021,
32 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes. Hogg, D., 2023.
33 Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: your views - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
34 Youth vaping: call for evidence. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, 2023,
35 Summary of responses and government response. Department for Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs, 2023,
36 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes. Hogg, D., 2023
37 The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013. UK Government, 2013,
38 Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Material Focus, 2023,
39 Consultation on reforming the producer responsibility system for waste electrical and electronic equipment 2023. Department for Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs, 2023,
40 Minister takes action on single use vapes. DAERA, 2023
41 Ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes in England, Defra (2024). 8.06% share of Scottish population compared to UK applied to overall UK vape industry turnover of £1.325 billion in 2021.
42 Vaping is big business in Britain. The Economist, 2023
43 Analysis of the market for vapes: exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. Eunomia, 2023.
44 Assumptions from Defra single-use vapes impact assessment. As little to no manufacturing has been seen in the UK, there is an even smaller likelihood that manufacturing is taking place in Scotland.
45 Ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes in England, Defra (2024)
46 Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)
47 Register of tobacco and nicotine vapour product retailers. Scottish Government.
48 Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 (legislation.gov.uk)
49 Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)
50 Business births, deaths and survival rates. Office for National Statistics, live search 19 March 2024
51 Business births, deaths and survival rates. Office for National Statistics, live search 19 March 2024
52 Business births, deaths and survival rates. Office for National Statistics, live search 19 March 2024
53 Vaping is big business in Britain. The Economist, 2023
54 Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: your views - UK Gov - 2024
55 Vaping Products Duty consultation. HM Treasury, 2024
56 Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
57 Climate Change Plan: The Third Report on Proposals and Policies 2018-2032. Scottish Government, 2018
59 UN Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations website, live search
60 Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Scottish Government, 2022
61 Programme for Government 2023 to 2024, Scottish Government, 2023
63 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE). Health & Safety Executive
64 What is the polluter pays principle? LSE, 2022. Accessed: May 2024
65 EPR – Collective system. Circularity. Accessed: May 2024
66 Analysis of the market for vapes: exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. Eunomia, 2023.
67 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes Hogg, D. 2023,
68 Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: guidance
69 Carrier bag charge (Mygov.scot) 2022
70 Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). UK Government, 2022
74 Ibid
75 UK Government, Youth vaping call for evidence analysis (2023)
76 Ipsos for HMRC (2024), Understanding the vaping market, Understanding the vaping market (Gov.uk) 2024
77 Ibid
78 Single-use vapes sparking surge in fires at UK waste-plants. The Guardian, 2023
79 Over 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres are caused by batteries many of which are hidden inside electricals. Material Focus media release, 2022.
81 Youth vaping: call for evidence. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, UK Government 2023
82 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes Hogg, D. 2023,
83 The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions. IEA, 2021
84 Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2021. Office for National Statistics, 2022
85 Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Material Focus media release, 2023
86 Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact of single-use e-cigarettes Hogg, D. 2023
87 Single-use Plastic Products (Scotland) Regulations 2021. Zero Waste Scotland Knowledge Hub, 2023
88 Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: business and regulatory impact assessment – final. Scottish Government, 2021
89 Marine litter plastics and microplastics and their toxic chemicals components: the need for urgent preventive measures . Gallo, F., Fossi, C., Weber, R. et al. Environmental Sciences Europe, Volume 30 2018
90 Scottish Litter Survey, Keep Scotland Beautiful, 2023
91 Pride in Place: Tackling Incivilities, Carnegie Trust UK, 2012
93 Zero Waste Scotland (2023), Disposable vapes: A case for changing our throwaway culture, https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/changing-our-throwaway-culture
94 The Electronic Cigarette Company, The Ultimate Guide to E-cig Batteries, https://www.theelectroniccigarette.co.uk/batteries/the-ultimate-guide-to-e-cig-batteries
95 Department of Health, The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016
96 Over 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres are caused by batteries many of which are hidden inside electricals. Material Focus, 2022.
97 Material Focus (2023), Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week, https://www.materialfocus.org.uk/press-releases/disposable-single-use-vapes-thrown-away-have-quadrupled-to-5-million-per-week/
98 Analysis of the market for vapes: exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. Eunomia, 2023.
99 Eunomia (2023), Analysis of the Market for Vapes: Exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes, https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21447
100 E-cigarettes: regulations for consumer products, UK Government. Accessed February 2024.
101 Vapes 10 times over legal size seized at Kent ports, BBC News. Accessed February 2024.
102 Eunomia (2023), Analysis of the Market for Vapes: Exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes, https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21447
103Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain. ASH, 2023..
104 , Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Material Focus, 2023
105 Analysis of the market for vapes: exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. Eunomia, 2023.
106 ibid
107 Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week. Materials Focus, 2023.
108 Council adopts new regulation on batteries and waste batteries - European Council - 2023
110 France backs ban on disposable vapes - The Royal Environmental Health Institute Scotland - 2024.
111 Disposable vapes FAQs Local Government Association, 2024
112 Register of Commission Documents - C(2024)1673 (europa.eu)
113 GB 41700-2022 National Mandatory Standard for Electronic Cigarettes. AGC news release, 2022
114 Vaping, herbal smoking and smokeless tobacco products regulation. New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2024.
115 Reuters (2024), New Zealand government to ban disposable e-cigarettes, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-government-ban-disposable-e-cigarettes-2024-03-20/
116 About vaping and e-cigarettes. Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, 2023.
117 Tobacco Control Laws - Bans on e-cigarettes. Live Search, accessed February 2024.
118 Tobacco Control Strategy - Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation. Scottish Government, 2023
119 Raising Scotland's tobacco-free generation: our tobacco control action plan 2018. Scottish Government, 2018.
120 Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: consultation. Scottish Government, 2024
121 National Performance Framework. Scottish Government, accessed February 2024
122 National Outcome: We value and enjoy our built environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations. Scottish Government, accessed February 2024
123 National Outcome: We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production. Scottish Government, accessed February 2024
124 Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. Scottish Government, 2023
125 Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: consultation. Scottish Government, 2024
126 Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping. UK Government, 2023
127 Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping consultation: government response, UK Government, 2024
128 Consultation on Draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024. Scottish Government, 2024.
129 Impact Assessment on the Proposal to ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes (UK-wide assessment). Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), 2024.
130 Shop displays of tobacco and vaping products - House of Commons Library - 2023
131 Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation - UK Gov - 2023
132 Eunomia (2023) Analysis of the Market for Vapes (unpublished)
133 Youth vaping Call for Evidence - UK Gov - 2023
134 Eunomia (2023) Environmental Impacts of Vapes (unpublished)
137 Impact Assessment on the Proposal to ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes (UK-wide assessment) (publishing.service.gov.uk) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), 2024.
138 Zero Waste Scotland (2023), Scoping policy options for Scotland focusing on understanding and managing the environmental impact
of single use e-cigarettes: Detailed Technical Report, https://cdn.zerowastescotland.org.uk/managed-downloads/mf-zazzy3b2-1688050338d
139 The Green Book: appraisal and evaluation in central government (Gov.uk) 2013
140 Pesko MF, Huang J, Johnston LD, Chaloupka FJ (2018), E‐cigarette price sensitivity among middle‐and high‐school students: Evidence from monitoring the future, Addiction, 113(5)
141 Stoklosa M, Drope J, Chaloupka FJ (2016), Prices and e-cigarette demand: evidence from the European Union, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 18(10)
143 Jackson SE, Tattan-Birch H, Shahab L, et al. (2024), Who would be affected by a ban on disposable vapes? A population study in Great Britain, Public Health 227 (2024)
144 Total does not sum to 100% due to rounding
145 ASH (2023), Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among adults in Great Britain, https://ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-e-cigarettes-among-adults-in-Great-Britain-2023.pdf?v=1691058248
146 The Electronic Cigarette Company, The Ultimate Guide to E-cig Batteries, https://www.theelectroniccigarette.co.uk/batteries/the-ultimate-guide-to-e-cig-batteries
147 Green Book supplementary guidance: discounting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
148 Analysis of the market for vapes: exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. Eunomia, 2023.
149 Eunomia (2023), Analysis of the Market for Vapes: Exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes, https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21447
150 HMRC, UK Trade Info, https://www.uktradeinfo.com/trade-data/
151 Analysis of the Market for Vapes: Exploring the environmental impacts of single-use vapes, Eunomia (2023)
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Email: productstewardship@gov.scot
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