UK Vape Retail & Wholesale Compliance
The UK vaping market is subject to rules covering product safety, nicotine strength, packaging and labelling, product notification, age-restricted sales, single-use vapes, recycling, advertising and, from October 2026, Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps. Requirements can differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so businesses should check current official guidance for the markets in which they operate.
Last reviewed: 27 August 2026This page provides a general overview for UK vape retailers, wholesalers and trade customers. It does not replace legislation or regulatory guidance and does not constitute legal advice.
Important dates affecting retailers, wholesalers and the wider UK vape supply chain.
Core health information, product limits, packaging requirements and MHRA notification rules.
NHS guidance states that nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking, but vaping is not completely harmless and the long-term effects are not yet fully known.
Children and non-smokers should not vape. Nicotine is addictive.
NHS Vaping GuidanceApplicable nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes and refill containers must carry the prescribed warning:
Regulation 37 requires the warning on the front and back of the unit packet and any container pack and specifies its presentation and minimum coverage.
TRPR Regulation 37Products within the nicotine-vape notification regime must be properly notified and published on the relevant MHRA list before they can legally be supplied.
Retailers and wholesalers should verify applicable notification information when purchasing new stock.
Publication alone does not guarantee complete UK compliance. Other packaging, labelling and product requirements must also be satisfied.
MHRA Retailer & Producer GuidanceRelevant products placed on the Great Britain market use the MHRA Great Britain notification system. Relevant products placed on the Northern Ireland market are subject to separate notification arrangements using EU-CEG.
MHRA GB & Northern Ireland GuidanceCurrent restrictions and important changes taking effect during 2026.
The sale and supply of single-use or disposable vapes has been illegal throughout the UK since 1 June 2025.
The ban applies to nicotine and non-nicotine products and covers retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers and online supply.
Single-Use Vapes Ban GuidanceA vape should not be treated as reusable merely because its battery can be recharged.
As of 1 September 2026, age-of-sale rules are not identical across all four UK nations. From 29 October 2026, retailers, including online retailers, must not sell any vaping or nicotine product to anyone under 18 across the UK.
From that date, adults will also be prohibited from buying or attempting to buy these products on behalf of someone under 18.
Official guidance distinguishes these retail age-of-sale requirements from business-to-business wholesale transactions.
Selling Vaping & Nicotine ProductsVending machines supplying vaping or nicotine products will generally be prohibited across the UK from 29 October 2026.
A specific exception applies in England and Wales for qualifying vaping-product vending machines in certain adult mental-health inpatient settings.
Vending Machine Ban GuidanceNew restrictions apply to promotional free distribution, coupons and substantial discounts involving vaping and nicotine products.
This is not a blanket prohibition on ordinary commercial discounting. Current government guidance states that normal reductions may continue and that bulk and trade discounts may still apply.
Businesses should nevertheless review free samples, giveaways, nominal-price promotions and unusually deep consumer promotions.
Government Promotional Rules GuidanceHMRC requirements affecting vaping liquid and the UK supply chain from 1 October 2026.
Vaping Products Duty applies to liable vaping liquid at £2.20 per 10ml, equivalent to 22p per ml, whether or not the liable liquid contains nicotine.
Applicable vaping products newly released onto the UK market from 1 October 2026 must carry the required Vaping Duty Stamp on the outermost retail packaging in accordance with HMRC rules.
Wholesalers and retailers that only handle duty-paid vaping products do not normally need VPD approval merely because they retail or distribute them.
HMRC Wholesale & Retail GuidanceQualifying unstamped vaping products produced or imported before 1 October 2026 may continue to be stored and sold during the transitional period until 31 March 2027.
Businesses should retain evidence supporting the product's pre-October production or import status.
From 1 April 2027, vaping products outside duty suspension must carry the required stamp.
HMRC Transitional Stock RulesRelevant HMRC records should generally be retained for at least six years.
HMRC Record-Keeping GuidanceCurrent advertising rules distinguish factual product information from prohibited promotional communications.
CAP Code rules restrict promotional communications for unlicensed nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and their components in many online and electronic media.
Rule 22.12 includes an exception for media targeted exclusively to the trade.
Businesses can also provide factual, non-promotional product information on their own websites within the applicable rules.
CAP Code Section 22Businesses should avoid unauthorised health or medicinal claims and content particularly likely to appeal to under-18s.
ASA Factual vs Promotional GuidanceThe Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 creates broader advertising and sponsorship controls. Government currently intends the restrictions to commence across the UK from 1 June 2027.
Retail websites are expected to retain scope to provide factual, non-promotional information about products they sell. Further secondary legislation and official implementation guidance should be monitored.
Government Advertising UpdateNew regulation-making powers exist, but proposed restrictions should not be confused with rules already in force.
A UK-wide government consultation launched in July 2026 is considering proposals concerning:
As of 1 September 2026, these proposals are not final law. The consultation is scheduled to close at 11:59pm on 2 October 2026.
Government ConsultationThe Tobacco and Vapes Act contains powers and provisions for future retail licensing and wider product-registration arrangements.
A single fully operational UK-wide vape retail licensing system is not currently in force, and implementation differs between the four UK nations.
The proposed wider product-registration scheme is also not currently an operational replacement for the existing MHRA vape notification system.
Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Vapes are electrical products and require appropriate collection, handling and recycling.
Vapes are electrical products covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations.
Businesses selling vapes as distributors must provide an appropriate take-back route for relevant vape waste in line with the applicable WEEE requirements, including returned devices and relevant vape parts.
Vape and battery waste should be stored safely and sent through appropriate recycling routes rather than general waste.
GOV.UK WEEE GuidancePractical checks businesses should consider before purchasing, holding or supplying vaping products.
The exact checks required depend on the product and your role in the supply chain.
Quick answers to common compliance questions from UK vape retailers and wholesalers. For detailed requirements, use the official sources linked with each answer.
For nicotine-containing vaping products covered by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, nicotine strength must not exceed 20mg/ml. Nicotine refill containers supplied to consumers are limited to 10ml, and relevant e-cigarette tanks are limited to 2ml.
MHRA Product RulesYes. Since 1 June 2025, businesses throughout the UK have been prohibited from selling or supplying single-use vapes. The ban applies to both nicotine and non-nicotine products and includes online sales as well as physical retail.
Single-Use Vapes Ban GuidanceA vape is not reusable merely because it can be recharged. It must have a rechargeable battery and a refillable container. If it contains a coil, the coil must be removable and replaceable by the user, either directly or as part of a replaceable pod or cartridge. Applicable replacement refills and coils must also be separately available.
Reusable Vape RequirementsAs of 1 September 2026, age-of-sale rules are not identical across all four UK nations. From 29 October 2026, retailers across the UK, including online retailers, must not sell any vaping product or nicotine product to anyone under 18. The new rules also prohibit adults from buying these products on behalf of someone under 18.
Age-of-Sale GuidanceFor nicotine-containing vaping products covered by the notification regime, retailers should check that the product is published on the appropriate MHRA notified-products list before purchasing it. Retailers should also check applicable nicotine strength, capacity, packaging, labelling and reusable-device requirements. MHRA publication does not by itself prove compliance with every UK requirement.
MHRA Retailer GuidanceVaping Products Duty starts on 1 October 2026. It is charged at £2.20 per 10ml of liable vaping liquid, equivalent to 22p per ml, whether or not the liquid contains nicotine. For example, 2ml of liable vaping liquid attracts £0.44 of duty.
HMRC Vaping Products DutyNot simply because they sell or distribute duty-paid vaping products. HMRC approval is relevant to certain activities such as manufacturing vaping products in the UK, storing vaping products under duty suspension, or participating in the duty-stamp scheme. Retailers and wholesalers still need appropriate supply-chain and stamp checks.
HMRC Wholesale & Retail GuidanceYes, where the transitional rules apply. Qualifying unstamped vaping products produced or imported before 1 October 2026 may continue to be stored and sold until 31 March 2027, provided the business can support the stock's status with appropriate evidence. From 1 April 2027, vaping products outside duty suspension must carry the required duty stamp.
HMRC Transitional Stock RulesYes. The new rules restrict certain promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts, but they do not prohibit normal commercial price reductions. Current government guidance states that bulk and trade discounts may still apply. Businesses should still review free-product campaigns, nominal-price offers and unusually deep consumer promotions.
Government Discount GuidanceYes. Vapes are electrical products covered by WEEE requirements. Businesses selling vapes as distributors must provide an appropriate take-back route for relevant vape waste. This can include returned devices and relevant vape parts. Collected waste should be stored safely and sent through an appropriate recycling route.
GOV.UK WEEE GuidanceUse official government, regulator and legislation sources for current requirements.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Vape, nicotine, environmental, advertising and excise requirements can change and may differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and importers remain responsible for ensuring that their activities and products comply with applicable legislation and current regulatory guidance.
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Legacy Vape Hub UK Limited | Registered in England and Wales | Company Registration Number: 11663585 | VAT Registered No: 364935172 | Registered Office: Unit 3, Jury Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, M8 8FN
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