United Kingdom
RestrictedOnline Sales
Allowed
Offline Sales
Allowed
Legal Age
18+
Ban Scope
Partial
Allowed Product Types
Pod SystemRefillable
Purchase Channels
OnlineSpecialty StoreConvenience Store
Required Certifications
MHRA NotificationUKCA certification
Complete Policy Details
Sales Bans
Disposable electronic cigarettes are completely banned
Latest Developments
Comprehensive ban on disposable electronic cigarettes: England will completely ban the production, import, and sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from January 1, 2025, Scotland from October 1, 2024, Wales from December 1, 2024, and Northern Ireland from April 1, 2025. Each region has implemented regional environmental taxes (£ 1.5 per unit in England and £ 2 per unit in Scotland) specifically for battery recycling. Starting from October 1, 2026, the VAT exemption for electronic cigarette liquids will be cancelled, and all electronic cigarette liquids will be subject to a fixed tax based on their capacity (approximately £ 2-3/10mL, with a 20% VAT added).
Policy Trends
All regions are prohibited from producing, importing, and selling disposable electronic cigarettes (including online platforms), and only nicotine inhalers for medical purposes (with prescriptions) are exempted; The policy focus has shifted towards environmental regulations and youth protection.
Taxation
Value added tax (VAT) of 20%; Disposable electronic cigarette ring bonded: £ 1.5 per unit in England (from April 2024), £ 2 per unit in Scotland (from July 2024); Starting from January 2025, Northern Ireland will impose a 5% tariff on disposable electronic cigarettes imported from non EU countries. The consumption tax on electronic cigarette products will officially come into effect on October 1, 2026.
Sales Channel Restrictions
Allow online sales (age verification system required); Prohibition of vending machine sales (Scotland, Northern Ireland); It is prohibited to sell directly through social media platforms. Source: TRPR 2016 (updated according to SI 2016/507)
Age Restrictions
18+
Flavour Restrictions
unrestricted
Product Specifications
Nicotine concentration ≤ 20mg/mL; Supplement container ≤ 10mL; disposable/smoke cartridge ≤ 2mL; additives such as vitamins, caffeine, taurine, coloring agents, etc. are prohibited; CBD e-liquid does not contain THC. Source: TPD 2014/40/EU Article 20; MHRA TPD User Reference Guide (2022 Edition)
Hardware Requirements
Disposable/sealed cartridge capacity ≤ 2mL, e-liquid refill bottle ≤ 10mL (regardless of nicotine content). UKCA certification (replacing CE certification) and IEC 62133 explosion-proof standard; Smoke bombs or fuel tanks must pass the BS EN 16156 anti leakage standard (no leakage after 24 hours of inversion). BS EN ISO 8317 Child safety protection (prevents children from opening, such as pressing the rotating cover). Automatic locking function is required (power off after 5 minutes of inactivity). Cigarette holder material: PCTG or 316 stainless steel, BPA is prohibited. The instruction manual requires an English version, including charging instructions and recycling information. Source: BS EN 16156; BS EN 60601-1-11 (Battery Safety)
Packaging Requirements
The packaging must include: ingredient list (in descending order by weight), nicotine content (mg/mL), batch number "Keep out of reach of children"。 The health warning "This product contains nicotine..." must cover 30% of both the front and back sides (white background, black text, Helvetica bold). The packaging shall not contain misleading advertising (such as "natural", "organic", "safe", etc.), shall not resemble food or cosmetics, shall not contain environmental statements, and shall not contain economic incentives (vouchers, etc.). An instruction manual must be attached, including usage/storage instructions, contraindications, risk warnings, addiction information, etc. Source: TRPR 2016, Part 6
Advertising Restrictions
TV, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines and other media advertising are prohibited. Allow: industry publications, sales points (in store), cinemas, outdoor advertising, and non promotional website displays. Prohibit free sample distribution (Scotland also prohibits sponsorship and brand sharing). Source: CAP Code (Edition 13); BCAP Code
Notification Requirements
All nicotine containing products must submit a portal notification through MHRA (6 months prior to market launch). Notification fee: Initial fee of £ 150, annual fee of £ 60, and modification fee of £ 80. Submit market data (sales volume, consumer preferences, sales methods, etc.) before May 20th each year. The MHRA yellow card system collects data on adverse health effects. Source: MHRA TPD User Reference Guide (2022 Edition); Electronic Cigarettes etc. (Fees) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/877)
Policy Documents
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 (Statutory Instrument 2024 No. 1216)；
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024 No. 269)
Competent Authorities
1. MedMHRA (Market Regulation and Product Approval); HMRC (Tax Regulation); DEFRA (Environmental Policy); Trading Standards (local law enforcement); NHS (Public Health Service)
Policy Details
Comprehensive ban on disposable electronic cigarettes: England will completely ban the production, import, and sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from January 1, 2025, Scotland from October 1, 2024, Wales from December 1, 2024, and Northern Ireland from April 1, 2025. Each region has implemented regional environmental taxes (£ 1.5 per unit in England and £ 2 per unit in Scotland) specifically for battery recycling. Starting from October 1, 2026, the VAT exemption for electronic cigarette liquids will be cancelled, and all electronic cigarette liquids will be subject to a fixed tax based on their capacity (approximately £ 2-3/10mL, with a 20% VAT added).
All regions are prohibited from producing, importing, and selling disposable electronic cigarettes (including online platforms), and only nicotine inhalers for medical purposes (with prescriptions) are exempted; The policy focus has shifted towards environmental regulations and youth protection.
Last Updated: 2026-10