Enforcers have a ‘zero tolerance policy’ on any retailer selling single-use disposable vapes in Reading.
The vapes were banned in the UK in June last year, making it illegal for businesses to sell or supply all single-use vapes, including those that are not refillable and cannot be recharged.
Enforcement of the ban is conducted by Reading Borough Council’s trading standards team.
The council recently held a consultation into its enforcement guidelines for trading standards officers when retailers are found selling disposable vapes.
Enforcers are taking a zero-tolerance approach to the law, meaning those found selling the products will face prosecution.
The guidelines state: “The action we take could be prosecuting the person in magistrates’ court, applying to review a premises licence, issuing a fixed penalty fine of £200 or issuing a compliance notice.”
To begin the process, the officers will issue a ‘notice of intent’, which gives details of the action the council intends to take and why officers have issued it.
A person issued with a notice of intent has 28 days to make objections or representations.
These should be made in writing to consumerprotection@reading.gov.uk.
In the case of a fine, a person can clear their liability by paying £100 within 28 days of the issue of the notice.
The consultation was closed this month after just one person responded on the council’s Go Vocal website.
The council’s enforcement guidance remains unchanged as a result of the consultation.
Single-use vapes are currently legal in Italy, Greece, Spain and other European countries.
