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** 10 April 2025
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** UK
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** Opinion: Vape ban risks shifting environmental burden unless recycling improves, says Scott Butler (#1)
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** Industry lobbying stalls local junk food ad bans, investigation finds (#2)
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** International
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** US Army secretary appointed to lead US alcohol, tobacco and firearms agency in major shift (#3)
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** Regional
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** Businessman fined after selling vapes to underage customers in Derbyshire (#4)
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** Police seize stolen tobacco and perfume worth thousands at Stansted Airport (#5)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Written answers (#6)
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** Petition response (#7)
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** UK
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** Opinion: Vape ban risks shifting environmental burden unless recycling improves, says Scott Butler

With the UK’s ban on single-use vapes set to take effect on 1 June 2025, Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, has raised concerns that the policy could simply lead to new environmental challenges if not accompanied by stronger recycling measures. While the ban targets some of the most damaging disposable models, other alternatives like pod-based and high-capacity vapes are rapidly increasing in popularity and could pose similar risks if not managed properly.

Material Focus estimate that 8.2 million vapes are thrown away or littered in the UK every week—roughly 13 every second. Most of these are not recycled, despite containing lithium-ion batteries that can cause dangerous fires when damaged in waste and recycling systems.

Butler stresses that retailers and producers have a legal obligation to prevent this harm. Retailers must provide in-store takeback schemes for used vapes, and producers or first UK importers are required to fund their recycling. However, awareness of these schemes remains low, and far too many retailers are failing to meet their responsibilities. On its own the disposables ban will not solve this issue.
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Crucially, Butler argues that recycling a vape should be just as easy as buying one. Without proper infrastructure and accountability, the shift to new vape products could perpetuate the environmental damage caused by single-use models. For real change to occur, retailers must play a far more active role in making recycling accessible for one of the most polluting products on the market.

Source: Lets Recycle, 9 April 2025

See also: ASH blog- The 2025 Disposable Vapes Ban: What you need to know ([link removed])
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** Industry lobbying stalls local junk food ad bans, investigation finds

Local councils in England attempting to restrict junk food advertising in public spaces are facing mounting pressure from the advertising industry, according to a major investigation by The BMJ. Tactics reminiscent of those once used by tobacco companies—such as financial scaremongering, delays through long-term contracts, and efforts to water down policies—have caused some authorities to abandon or pause planned restrictions on promotions for food high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS).

Councils have reported being warned of potential revenue losses of up to 30%, with advertising giants arguing that such restrictions could jeopardise essential income at a time of growing local authority funding crises. In some cases, lobbying delayed the implementation of policies by up to eight years due to existing contracts. Others were told that advertisers could be “part of the solution” to tackling obesity, despite research indicating otherwise.

Even where bans have been adopted, companies have often exploited loopholes in the nutrient profiling model used to classify products, allowing ads for items like chicken nuggets and fries to remain on display. Furthermore, many brands have simply shifted their promotions to private spaces outside the jurisdiction of council-led restrictions.

Public health experts and campaigners, including those from the Obesity Health Alliance and Bite Back, argue that this fragmented, locally driven approach cannot match the scale of the issue. They are calling for a nationwide ban on outdoor HFSS advertising, in line with forthcoming national restrictions on junk food ads on TV and online. The BMJ’s findings suggest that without central government action, local efforts will continue to be undermined by industry influence.

Source: The BMJ, 8 April 2025

See also:Killer Tactics Report ([link removed]) from ASH, OHA and AHA
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** International
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** US Army secretary appointed to lead US alcohol, tobacco and firearms agency in major shift

Control of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been moved from the justice department to the defence department in a significant reshuffle by the Trump administration. Dan Driscoll, currently serving as US army secretary, has taken over leadership of the ATF from Kash Patel, who had been overseeing both the FBI and ATF in an interim capacity.

The change marks the first time the agency responsible for federal gun law enforcement has been led from outside the justice department. The dual role now held by Driscoll is seen as a temporary measure, but it aligns with broader efforts to reduce or restructure the ATF. In recent weeks, agents from the bureau have also been reassigned to support immigration enforcement.

Source: The Guardian, 9 April 2025
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** Regional
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** Businessman fined after selling vapes to underage customers in Derbyshire

A Derbyshire business owner has been ordered to pay nearly £18,000 after being convicted of multiple offences related to the unlawful sale and possession of illegal vaping products. The offences involved selling vapes to minors and stocking items that did not comply with UK regulations. The case was brought forward following complaints and undercover operations by local trading standards officers, who discovered ongoing breaches at two retail premises.

Despite previous warnings, the retailer continued to operate outside legal requirements. The court imposed financial penalties to reflect the severity of the health risks involved and to discourage similar behaviour among other retailers. Additional legislative changes are due to come into effect later this year, which will ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes.

Source: Derby Telegraph, 10 April 2025
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** Police seize stolen tobacco and perfume worth thousands at Stansted Airport

Authorities at Stansted Airport have recovered a substantial haul of suspected stolen items, including 432 packets of cigarettes and 311 pouches of tobacco, along with designer perfumes. The seizure followed the arrest of three men in connection with thefts reported the previous month. An estimated £9,000 worth of goods was found at the airport, while further searches at linked addresses uncovered an additional £14,000 in suspected stolen products and £1,000 in cash. The suspects, all from Essex, have been released on police bail as enquiries continue.

Source: BBC News, 9 April 2025

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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Written answers

Asked by Rachel Blake, Cities of London and Westminster, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce pollution from plastic cigarette butts.

Answered by Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature, Coventry East, Labour

Cigarette butts are the most littered item according to a survey commissioned by Defra. Littered filters are not just an eyesore, they can also release toxins into the environment. The best way to reduce cigarette litter is to reduce smoking rates and we continue to support all measures that do so. We will however continue to monitor the available evidence on the prevalence of littered cigarette filters.

Dropping litter, including cigarette butts, is a crime and councils can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500. An effective and proportionate local enforcement strategy can deter people from littering.

Source: Hansard, 8 April 2025
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** Asked by Sir John Hayes, South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the sale of illegal vapes in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire, Labour

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement and crack down on rogue retailers by enabling ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. The bill also enables the introduction of a new registration scheme for tobacco, vape, and nicotine products sold in the United Kingdom’s market. This will help ensure products are compliant with product safety standard requirements, and enable Trading Standards to remove non-compliant products from the market quickly and efficiently.

In 2025/26 we will invest £10 million of new funding into Trading Standards, to enhance their work in tackling the illicit and underage sale of tobacco and vapes, and to support the implementation of the bill. This funding will be used to recruit approximately 80 new regionally coordinated apprentices in England. This will benefit all regions, including the East Midlands, which covers South Holland and the Deepings and Lincolnshire.

The introduction of a new Vaping Products Duty in October 2026 will provide civil and criminal powers for HM Revenue and Customs to assess for duty and seize products and equipment used to produce or transport illicit vapes.

Source: Hansard, 8 April 2025
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** Asked by Danny Beales, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS 10-year plan will include steps to improve (a) prevention of, (b) early diagnosis for and (c) treatment for lung conditions.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire, Labour

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving respiratory health in all parts of the county.

More tests and scans delivered in the community to allow for earlier diagnosis, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including respiratory conditions, closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help people manage their conditions, prevent deterioration, and improve survival rates. Taking action to reduce the causes of the biggest killers, such as enabling a smoke free generation, can further help prevent lung conditions.

Source: Hansard, 8 April 2025
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** Petition response

The Government has responded to a petition with over 11,000 signatures which argues that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill should not include powers to restrict vape flavours as it risks undermining their use as a smoking cessation aid.

The Governments response said that any restrictions on vape flavours will be subject to consultation and potential future regulations will be debated in Parliament. The Government acknowledged the need to avoid unintended consequences on smoking prevalence or the use of vapes as a cessation device.

They cited ASH statistics on the appeal of fruit flavours to young people and argued that flavours such as ‘gummy bear’ and ‘cotton candy’ overtly appeal to children and should not be on the market.

The Government reinstated their intent to address the branding and marketing of vapes to children and the importance of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in achieving this.

Source: Petition.Parliament, 9 April 2025
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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