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ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi has been looking at the latest changes and explains how vapers will be affected
A new tax on vaping has come into force in an effort to cut its appeal to young people and non-smokers.Vaping products duty is charged at £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid, whether it contains nicotine or not, and will be paid by manufacturers, importers and warehouse keepers approved by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).It will be up to those operators as to whether they pass the duty cost on to retailers and consumers.HMRC has also launched the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, which it hopes will provide traceability throughout the supply chain to improve consumer protection and help the high street in its fight against illicit trade.It is allowing a six-month grace period to give wholesalers and retailers the chance to sell existing stock before all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid vaping duty stamp from April 1.
Tobacco duty rates have also increased to maintain the incentive for current tobacco smokers to switch to vaping at an increase of £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50 grams of tobacco, in addition to the standard tobacco duty escalator.New travellers’ allowances from October 1 allow those arriving in Great Britain to bring up to 50ml of vaping liquid for personal use without paying duty and tax. Amounts above this must be declared and duty paid on the full quantity.James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, said: “Our new measures will help get illicit vapes off high streets across the country.“We’re backing all those retailers who play by the rules by making it easier for law enforcement agencies to take action against those who don’t.”
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Health minister Karin Smyth said: “Our public health advice is clear: while vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help adult smokers to quit, children and non-smokers should never vape.“These measures are an important step in our ambition to tackle youth vaping by reducing the affordability of vaping products, which goes hand-in-hand with the work we are already doing to tackle the appeal and availability of vapes on our high streets.”UK Vaping Industry Association director general John Dunne said: “There is absolutely no debate that we need to prevent young people from accessing vaping products, and it’s not that the industry is flatly opposed to a duty increase, but the incoming rate is nothing short of a public health time bomb.“If we want to talk about duty, how about the government’s duty to protect one of the most effective tools available to adults trying to quit smoking?“The government says the duty will help reduce the appeal of vaping to young people while preserving the financial incentive for smokers to switch, with the money raised also intended to support the NHS.“But if the result is more adults returning to smoking and a greater burden on the health service from smoking-related illness, that is completely at odds with what this policy is trying to achieve.”
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