UK Councils Seize More Than 1.3 Million Non-Compliant Vapes One Year After Disposable Ban

Key Points

• Northerner’s FOI analysis found more than 1.3 million illegal or non-compliant vape products seized after the disposable vape ban.
• Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council recorded the highest number of seizures at 250,023.
• Hull City Council ranked second with 204,252 seized products.
• Swansea Council recorded the highest estimated seizure value at £470,000.
• Data covers June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.
• Figures are based on local authority FOI responses rather than official national statistics.

2Firsts

July 21, 2026

One year after the UK disposable vape ban came into force, local authorities and trading standards teams continue to seize illegal and non-compliant vaping products.

According to FOI data collected and analysed by nicotine retailer Northerner, UK councils reported more than 1.3 million vape products seized between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 because they were considered illegal, non-compliant, prohibited or in breach of regulations.

The data was collected through FOI requests submitted by Northerner to UK local authorities and includes seizure volumes, estimated values and regional enforcement patterns.

Bolton and Hull Recorded Highest Seizure Volumes

The councils with the highest number of seized products included:

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council ranked first with 250,023 seized products.

The data showed that Bolton recorded particularly high seizures in some months, including 216,205 products seized in March 2026.

Hull City Council ranked second with 204,252 seized items, reporting consistently high seizure levels between June and December 2025.

Ealing Borough Council ranked third with 86,203 seized products, although most seizures occurred in February 2026, when 84,250 products were confiscated.

Swansea Recorded Highest Seizure Value

The ranking changes when measured by estimated product value.

Swansea Council ranked first with an estimated £470,000 worth of seized products.

The council reported 47,200 seized vape products during the period, with seizures mainly coming from vape shops and convenience stores.

Manchester City Council ranked third, with an estimated £185,250 worth of seized products from convenience stores, grocery shops and mobile phone stores.

Data Highlights Continued Availability of Non-Compliant Products

The UK disposable vape ban came into force in June 2025, restricting the sale of disposable vaping products as part of efforts to reduce waste and youth access.

The FOI data indicates that large numbers of non-compliant products continued to be identified after the ban.

However, because the figures are based on individual local authority FOI responses, differences in reporting methods, enforcement resources and classification standards mean they should not be interpreted as a complete measurement of the UK illicit vape market.

Northerner Calls for Stronger Enforcement

Marina Murphy, senior director of external affairs UK and scientific affairs at Northerner, said continued availability of illicit products shows that restrictions alone are insufficient without stronger enforcement.

She argued that weak enforcement could allow supply to shift from regulated businesses toward illegal channels.

Murphy also suggested that the UK could consider elements of the Dutch Bibob model, which allows authorities to conduct enhanced background checks on licence applicants seeking to sell tobacco or nicotine products.

The proposal reflects Northerner’s policy position and does not represent current UK government policy.

UK Vape Regulation Moves Into Enforcement Phase

The data highlights how UK vape regulation is moving from policy development into enforcement implementation.

While the disposable vape ban addressed a specific product category, local authorities now face challenges including identifying non-compliant products, tracing supply chains and monitoring online sales.

For the vaping industry, future compliance will depend not only on product standards but also on import controls, retail licensing, age verification and supply-chain transparency.

How effectively the UK coordinates local enforcement and whether illicit product availability declines over time will become key indicators of the ban’s impact.

Follow 2Firsts for the latest updates on global tobacco harm reduction, nicotine products and regulatory developments.

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