Key Points
● UK Compliance: The UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will create new obligations for companies manufacturing, importing, storing or supplying vaping products for the UK market.
● Industry Attendance: 2Firsts hosted a UK vape duty stamp compliance exchange in Shenzhen on May 14, with representatives from nearly 20 companies attending.
● Core Concerns: Participants focused on duty stamp application procedures, UK agency qualifications, related costs and warehousing arrangements.
● Expert Guidance: Kurt Yang and Echo Guo briefed companies on policy requirements, application pathways and practical compliance challenges.
● Service Launch: 2Firsts Compliance Solutions introduced its UK service, covering market-entry assessment, compliance gap review, application preparation and year-round support.
● Global Compliance: 2Firsts will continue to provide regulatory reporting, policy analysis and compliance services for companies entering major nicotine markets.
2Firsts
May 17, 2026
The United Kingdom is preparing to introduce a new excise duty and duty stamp system for vaping products, creating new obligations for companies that manufacture, import, store or supply products for the UK market. Under HMRC guidance, businesses are expected to prepare for the Vaping Products Duty and the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, with applications for relevant approvals opening from April 1, 2026, ahead of implementation from October 1, 2026. For overseas manufacturers and exporters, the new framework also raises practical questions around UK representation, warehousing, documentation and supply-chain management.
2Firsts hosted a UK vape duty stamp compliance exchange in Shenzhen on May 14 to address these questions, bringing together representatives from nearly 20 companies to discuss the practical impact of the UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme.
The event, held in Bao’an District, Shenzhen, was designed for company executives, UK market managers, sales leaders, and finance and compliance personnel involved in the UK vaping market. The session focused on policy interpretation, application procedures, operational challenges and preparations companies may need to make ahead of the new UK duty and stamp regime.
Companies Raise Questions on Agency Qualifications and Warehousing
During the two-hour session, Kurt Yang, compliance partner at 2Firsts, and Echo Guo, co-founder and CEO of 2Firsts, introduced the UK’s Vaping Products Duty, the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, the expected application process and common issues companies may face during implementation.
Company representatives raised questions on the duty stamp application process, company qualification requirements, related costs, and the role of UK-based agents or representatives.
According to the discussion, many participants were particularly focused on two issues: the qualifications required for UK duty stamp agency services, and whether UK warehousing arrangements would affect future compliance and market access.
The discussion showed that companies are treating the UK rules as more than a tax filing issue. Participants asked how the new system could affect documentation, local representation, warehousing, logistics, product circulation and ongoing compliance management.
2Firsts compliance specialists responded to the questions and discussed how companies can begin reviewing their business structures, documentation, logistics arrangements and possible compliance pathways.
2Firsts Compliance Solutions Introduces UK Service
At the event, 2Firsts Compliance Solutions introduced its UK-focused compliance service, covering market-entry assessment, compliance gap review, application preparation and year-round operational support.
The service is designed for companies selling or planning to sell vaping products in the UK, particularly those that need to assess their exposure under the upcoming duty and stamp requirements.
2Firsts said companies should avoid viewing duty stamp compliance as a single administrative filing. Instead, businesses may need to assess how tax compliance, local representation, warehousing, documentation, product circulation and continuous operational management interact with each other.
The UK service is part of 2Firsts’ compliance offering for international brands and Chinese supply-chain companies operating in regulated nicotine markets.
Continued Focus on Global Compliance
2Firsts has continued to provide regulatory information and compliance services to the industry through seminars, training sessions and exchange events.
In April 2026, 2Firsts held the third session of its PMTA compliance training program in Shenzhen. According to 2Firsts, it is currently the only publicly available PMTA system training program in China, designed to help companies better understand the U.S. premarket tobacco product application framework and related compliance practices.
On May 21, 2026, 2Firsts will also host a U.S. compliance exchange in Shenzhen. The event will focus on recent developments in U.S. vaping regulation and PMTA application strategies, including enforcement trends, regulatory expectations and compliance planning.
2Firsts said it will continue to follow regulatory changes in major nicotine markets and provide reporting, analysis and compliance services for companies seeking to meet local market requirements.
