The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

These Regulations prohibit the supply, whether by sale or otherwise, in the course of business of single-use vapes and come into operation on 1 June 2025.

Regulation 4 provides that is an offence for a person, in the course of a business, to supply, offer to supply or have in their possession for supply, single-use vapes. A person found guilty of an offence under regulation 4 is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine limited to the statutory maximum, or, on conviction on indictment, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both.

Regulation 5 provides for a defence of due diligence.

A full impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs to business and the voluntary sector has been prepared and published by the UK Government. The assessment is available from www.legislation.gov.uk and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1 4DF.