According to Talkingretail, the Scottish government has announced a draft proposal to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, and has launched a two-week consultation period. The ban is planned to be implemented in April 2025.
In a letter, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) urges the Scottish government to accurately assess the impact of the disposable e-cigarette ban on the black market, and how standard trading teams should allocate resources to tackle this issue.
The latest consumer sentiment survey shows that nearly one quarter (24%) of current disposable e-cigarette users will continue to use disposable products even after the ban is implemented, as they can only obtain these products from the illegal market. An independent retail agency stated that the illegal e-cigarette market currently holds about one third of the e-cigarette transactions in the UK, and that resources for trading standards are insufficient to meet the demands for enforcement access.
ACS Chief Executive Officer James Lowman stated:
The ban on disposable e-cigarettes will primarily impact illegal sellers by pushing more people to seek out their products when they are unable to obtain them from legitimate retailers. A clear plan is needed for the illicit market, and proper consultation with the retail industry is essential to evaluate the effects of the proposed ban.
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