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<p>The Department published the command paper, Stopping the Start, in October 2023,
which sets out our plans to create the first Smokefree Generation, to tackle youth
vaping, and to strengthen tobacco and vape enforcement. These measures amount to the
most significant public health intervention in a generation.</p><p>The policies announced
in the command paper are being introduced through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which
is currently undertaking its passage through Parliament. The bill changes the age
of sale of tobacco so that those born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be legally
sold tobacco. It also prohibits the sale of non-nicotine vapes to under 18-year-olds,
and the free distribution of vapes to under 18-year-olds, and introduces fixed penalty
notices for breaches of the age of sale legislation.</p><p>To help tackle the rise
in youth vaping, the bill provides powers to restrict vape flavours, point of sale
displays, and packaging, and the Government has also confirmed that under environmental
legislation, we will ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes. Any new burdens
on local trading standards to enforce these new measures will be assessed ahead of
any future regulations.</p><p>We are strengthening our enforcement activity through
£30 million of new funding per year for enforcement agencies, including for trading
standards, to boost the enforcement of underage tobacco and vape sales. In addition,
fixed penalty notices introduced in the bill will support trading standards to take
quicker action against irresponsible retailers, through using on-the-spot fines rather
than going through lengthy magistrate’s court processes. Local authorities will keep
the proceeds, to invest back into their enforcement activity.</p>
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