MPs are calling for an increase of up to £10,000 in the value of on-the-spot fines issued to rogue sellers of tobacco and vapes.
Speaking at the House of Commons yesterday at the debate on the use and sale of illegal vapes, Dame Andrea Leadsom applauded the government for its recent distribution of £3m in funding to trading standards to clampdown on illicit sellers.
However, she stressed the need for stricter punishments. At present, trading standards have the power to issue on-the-spot fines to rogue sellers, but Leadsom urged for an increase in the value from £2,500 to £10,000, “so that there is a significant disincentive to this behaviour”.
“Let’s face it, these people are making money out of this and that is why they are doing it,” she said. “They are making money out of selling illegal things to children that will harm them.”
Last year, the UK Vape Industry Association (UKVIA) also stressed the need to increase fines of up to £10,000, to “get tough” on those getting away with criminal behaviour.
Leadsom added: “There is no room for complacency. The additional funding will give agencies the resources they need to catch criminals and rogue traders. I am on the warpath where vaping is concerned.”
The comments come after a consultation was launched in October last year to clamp down on the sale of disposable vapes to children and youths. Leadsom revealed that discussions about strengthening enforcement and introducing new fixed penalty notices have taken place.
“We are in the process of finalising our response to the consultation and will update parliament shortly on the measures we are taking forward,” she said.
Agreeing with the above proposals, Conservative MP Peter Gibson reinforced the losses independent retailers are seeing as a result of rogue sellers, claiming sales “falling off a cliff” while sellers rob “trade from our legitimate traders”.
“In one instance, a trader of some 40 years reported that his tobacco sales fell by more than £7,000 a week to just £2,000,” he said. “We know that the real underlying cause is that the trade has shifted to illegal sales in newly popped up competition.
“Together with the footfall that tobacco sales bring to those shops and the massive loss in revenue, one retailer I visited estimates that his store is collecting nearly £200,000 less duty, and VAT because of illicit goods. Imagine the scale of that lost revenue to the country as a whole.”
Other MPs present called for an outright ban on disposables, as well as imposing “tougher regulations” on the advertising and marketing of vape products.
Conservative MP Caroline Johnson stressed the importance of restricting the variety of flavours and colours used to market the products, proposing a “ban on all colours but one” to ensure uniformity.
Amid concern, popular vape brands including Lost Mary and Elfbar have recently dropped ‘dessert’ flavours from their ranges.
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