The UK government has announced a £10 million investment to bolster Trading Standards operations across local communities.
In a press release published on GOV.UK on 23 March 2025, the government stated that this funding will support the recruitment of approximately 80 apprentice enforcement officers dedicated to tackling tobacco and vapes illegal sales and protecting public health.
The initiative is part of the broader Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of tobacco to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. It also introduces tougher penalties for retailers caught selling to minors, including £200 on-the-spot fines in England and Wales and the potential implementation of a licensing scheme for tobacco and vape sales.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrea Leadsom, emphasised the importance of these measures, stating:
“Buying illicit tobacco and vapes may save a few pennies in your pocket, but they can be incredibly dangerous and are often linked to criminal activity.”
Vaping Industry Support for Enhanced Enforcement
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has welcomed the investment, with Director General John Dunne highlighting the need for tougher enforcement.
“While the legitimate vape sector is committed to the shared goal of helping adult smokers make the switch, there are some unscrupulous sellers who have no problem flouting the law to line their own pockets,” he said.
“This is why we have long called for greater investment in enforcement – so Trading Standards are armed with the resources they need to bring the hammer down on the rogue players who are putting consumers in danger and undermining the potential of vaping as a force for public health good,” Dunne added.
Dunne also urged for harsher penalties:
“The £200 on-the-spot fines being introduced in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill are far from what’s needed. Under the industry’s vape licensing framework, rogue retailers and distributors would face fines of up to £10,000 and £100,000 respectively.”
Similarly, the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) praised the government’s commitment to tackling illicit sales. Chief Executive Gillian Golden said:
“We applaud the announcement of this much-needed investment in strengthening the Trading Standards workforce. Local authorities have seen successive funding cuts from central government alongside significant rising financial pressures.
The IBVTA applauds the work by trading standards teams across the country to level the playing field for legitimate businesses.”
Golden also expressed hope that the funding would be expanded across the UK:
“We support the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in giving more powers to Trading Standards, and we hope this funding injection will be replicated across other UK nations soon.”
Crackdown on Illicit Sales Already Underway
According to the government, these efforts complement existing initiatives, including HMRC and Border Force’s £100 million Illicit Tobacco Strategy, which will introduce new powers to seize illegal products and hire over 200 additional compliance staff.
Local enforcement actions have already seen significant results. In York, police and council officers recently confiscated nearly £5,000 worth of illegal vapes and tobacco. A similar operation in Trowbridge led to the seizure of over 5,000 illicit cigarettes and 1 kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.
With this fresh wave of investment and vape industry backing, the hope is that this will help to clamp down on illicit trade, protect consumers, and pave the way for a healthier, smoke-free future. But will it be enough? …Probably not, but its a step in the right direction.
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