Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the regulation of vaping and e-cigarettes. 

The Government is actively supportive of the use of e-cigarettes as a means to help adults stop smoking. Some of the highest success rates of those trying to stop smoking are among adults using an e-cigarette, with evidence suggesting that an additional 70,000 people stop smoking every year as a result of using these devices. An estimated 2.4 million vapers are former smokers, and Vaping Awareness Month provides an opportunity to highlight the potential health benefits of making the switch.

The Government has regularly set out its position on vaping at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and will do so at the next conference in Panama in November 2023. The delegation will not agree to any decisions which would impact on the UK's ability to make regulated vapes available for adult smokers who wish to quit smoking.

The latest ‘Vaping in England’ report published last year, which includes an array of evidence produced by the United Kingdom academic community, is publicly available online and has been shared with the World Health Organization Global Tobacco Regulators Forum.

In the meantime, a new “illicit vapes enforcement squad” – led by Trading Standards – is working to enforce the rules on vaping and tackle illicit vapes and underage sales.  The enforcement squad the power to remove illegal products from shops and at our borders. 

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours,

EDWARD LEIGH MP