This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Ban the Import and Sale of Disposable Vapes
Ban the import and sale of disposable vapes. The vapes mostly contain lithium batteries, which there is currently a global shortage. Due to being incorrectly discarded, plus the difficulties of recycling, the vapes are polluting waters and causing negative impacts to biodiversity.
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Aside from the environmental issues relating to sale of disposable vapes, there has been an increase in the percentage of young individuals using e-cigarettes. With the ban on menthol cigarettes in the UK in 2020 and the target of smokefree England by 2030, it does not seem viable to continue the sale of such destructive products.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
MPs debate electronic cigarette use
On Thursday 29 June, Dr Caroline Johnson MP led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on electronic cigarette use.
During the debate, MPs discussed the attractiveness of electronic cigarettes to children, and the possibility of educating children on potential dangers of using them. MPs also discussed the environmental impact of disposable vapes.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
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MPs call for Government to tackle a rise in vaping among children
MPs on the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee have called upon the Government to consider placing heavier restrictions on the sale and advertisement of vapes to further restrict children's access to them.
The Committee heard from experts and industry representatives on the topic of youth vaping and wrote to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, with their recommendations.
Their letter calls on the Government to implement the following key measures:
- Consider bringing restrictions on packaging and marketing of vapes in line with those that apply to tobacco products
- Review resources and enforcement powers of trading standards to prevent vapes being sold to children
- Assess the impact on use among children and smokers on lower incomes of a proposed excise tax on disposable vapes, which would also help to protect against imports of illegal products - which the Committee heard can contain chemicals including hydraulic oil and antifreeze.
What is the Health and Social Care Committee?
The Health and Social Care Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Department of Health and Social Care and associated public bodies.
- Find out more about the committee on its website
- Follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work
The Health and Social Care Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.
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Use and sale of illegal vapes debated by MPs
On Tuesday 16 January, Peter Gibson MP led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the use and sale of illegal vapes. Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom MP responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that Westminster debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.
Interactive explainer: Westminster Hall debates
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MPs debate the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
MPs debated the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Tuesday 16 April in the House of Commons. This was a Second Reading debate, where MPs debated the general principles of the Bill. MPs agreed that the Bill should progress.
The Bill would give the Government powers to prohibit the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009, and enable new product requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products.
You can read more about the measures included in the Bill in this House of Commons Library Research Briefing.
What is a Second Reading?
Second Reading is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of a Bill.
At the end of the debate, the Commons decide whether the Bill should be given its Second Reading, meaning it can proceed to the next stage. If there isn't consensus that a Bill should proceed to its next stage, MPs will vote on this.
Find out more about how Second Reading works.
What happens next?
Having passed Second Reading, MPs will now consider the Bill in detail, and can suggest amendments (proposals for change) to the Bill.
Read more about the bill and keep up to date with its progress.
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