Newham Council is working with local businesses to enforce the new measures

The side of a Newham Council branded van

Newham’s trading standards team is working with local businesses to enforce the ban on single use vapes. From 1 June selling or supplying single use vapes was declared illegal. Now selling disposable vapes – whether they contain nicotine or not – is outlawed online and in all shops.

The Newham Trading Standards team has contacted more than 300 local retailers to advise them how to prepare and work within the new law.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and Environment, said: “I welcome this ban. Single-use vapes release toxic substances like lead and mercury into our soil, rivers and streams.

“In our general rubbish collection they are posing a real risk of fire for refuse trucks, sorting equipment, and most importantly our staff who are being put in danger daily from the lithium batteries”

Where retailers do not comply with the new law, trading standards will seize any single-use vapes they find; issuing civil sanctions such as stop notices, compliance notices or fines of £200.

Shop owners who continue to sell disposable vapes, face an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both.

Retailers who have questions about what they need to do can email: trading.standards@newham.gov.uk

For information on how to dispose of vapes and batteries, visit: Dangerous Waste Disposal – Newham Council

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