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** 10 July 2026
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** UK
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** UK proposes stricter rules on vape and tobacco packaging and branding (#1)
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** Health minister outlines tighter rules on vape marketing and displays (#2)
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** The economic impact of smoking on Wales revealed (#3)
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** International
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** Japan opts to retain current rules on heated tobacco (#4)
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** Opinion: Anti-smoking protections face renewed uncertainty (#5)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions (#6)
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** Links of the week
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** Factsheet: Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among adults in Great Britain (#8)
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** Factsheet: Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among young people in Great Britain (#9)
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** Press Release: ASH, AHA and OHA response to the Ethics and Integrity Commission's review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government (#10)
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** UK
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** UK proposes stricter rules on vape and tobacco packaging and branding

The UK government has launched a consultation on measures designed to make vaping products less appealing to children and teenagers. Proposals include introducing standardised packaging, limiting devices to neutral colours, restricting flavour descriptions and requiring retailers to keep vapes out of sight.

The plans aim to reduce youth uptake while preserving vaping as a less harmful alternative for adults who smoke. The consultation also covers extending plain packaging requirements to all tobacco products, placing information on stop-smoking support inside cigarette packs and removing display exemptions in duty-free shops.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) chief executive Hazel Cheeseman has backed efforts to curb youth-focused marketing, while stressing the importance of maintaining access to vaping products for adult smokers seeking to quit. Research cited by the government suggests that plain packaging may make vapes less attractive to young people without reducing interest among adults.

Source: The Guardian, 10 July 2026

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** See also: DHSC - Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display ([link removed]) | DHSC - Press Release: Ministers launce crackdown on vapes targeting kids ([link removed]) | ASH -Action on Smoking and Health response: Ministers launch crackdown on vapes targeting kids ([link removed]) | Scotsman – SNP tale steps towards restricting the sale of vapes to youngsters ([link removed])
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** Health minister outlines tighter rules on vape marketing and displays

The Health Secretary James Murray has outlined plans to introduce stricter controls on the way vaping products are presented and sold, arguing that stronger action is needed to reduce their appeal to children and teenagers. The proposals include standardised packaging, limited colour options for devices, simplified flavour descriptions and requirements for products to be kept out of public view in shops, bringing them closer to existing tobacco retail rules.

Murray clarifies that vaping remains a useful option for adults trying to stop smoking, but stressed that products containing nicotine should not be promoted in ways that attract young people. He states that the government wants to prevent vaping from becoming normalised among children and intends to curb marketing practices that encourage uptake by under-18s.

Source: Daily Mirror, 10 July 2026
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** The economic impact of smoking on Wales revealed

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** A new analysis has highlighted the significant financial and social effects of tobacco use across Wales, estimating that it places a yearly burden of more than £1.5 billion on the country. The costs are linked to healthcare demands, reduced workforce participation and environmental consequences.

The findings show that smoking continues to contribute to major health inequalities, with people in poorer communities experiencing much higher smoking rates and a disproportionate share of the related costs. Public health leaders say reducing tobacco dependence remains essential to improving wellbeing and supporting a healthier future.

The report also points to recent legislation aimed at reducing future tobacco use and highlights the availability of free quitting support for people who want to stop smoking.

Source: Nation.Cymru, 10 July 2026

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** See also: Public Health Wales – The Cost of Smoking in Wales ([link removed])
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** International
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** Japan opts to retain current rules on heated tobacco
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**
Japan's health authorities have chosen not to impose stricter limits on heated tobacco products, deciding that existing research does not yet conclusively demonstrate the health impact of passive exposure. Indoor exemptions allowing their use in designated areas will therefore continue while further scientific evidence is collected. Officials expect to reassess the policy within the next few years as use of the products continues to increase, although additional administrative requirements will be introduced for some venues where smoking is permitted. The decision has drawn criticism from some medical experts, who believe stronger safeguards should be adopted despite the remaining uncertainties.

Source: The Japan Times, 9 July 2026

See also: Tobacco Reporter – Japan shelved tightening HTP regulations ([link removed])
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** Opinion: Anti-smoking protections face renewed uncertainty
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**
Writing for Ms Magazine, Michelle Goodwin discusses the Trump administration’s decision to scale back several longstanding federal initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use, despite smoking rates in the United States reaching record lows. She argues that decades of public health progress were achieved through sustained education campaigns, restrictions on smoking and other prevention measures, and warns that dismantling these efforts risks reversing those gains.

The article highlights the ending of a 14-year national smoking cessation campaign, the closure of a key public health office responsible for tobacco control, and changes to federal policy that permit broader availability and promotion of certain flavoured vaping products.

Goodwin contends that these developments could lead to higher levels of nicotine dependence, particularly among younger people, and reduce access to support services for those trying to stop smoking.

In the article, Goodwin references a recent New York Times article highlighting the potential influence of the tobacco industry on policymaking. The article noted that no conclusive evidence directly connects political donations to specific government decisions.

Michelle Goodwin concludes that weakening tobacco control measures is likely to have the greatest impact on communities already facing higher smoking rates and argues that stronger investment in prevention, research and cessation support is needed to protect public health.

Source: Ms Magazine, 9 July 2026
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions
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**
Asked by Julie Minns, Carlisle, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential security and data privacy impact of so-called smart vapes and other internet-connected vaping devices.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Washington and Gateshead South, Labour

The Department is aware of the increasing role of technology in vapes. That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Act includes broad powers to regulate the technological features of vapes and associated software. In October 2025, we launched a call for evidence to inform potential policy proposals for future vape regulations, including in relation to the role of technology in vapes.

The Government, working with the devolved administrations where appropriate, is committed to consulting on how we will make use of new powers. We have already consulted on measures relating to introducing vape-free places and are planning to consult on introducing restrictions on vaping and nicotine product packaging, vape appearance, and changing where and how vapes are displayed in shops soon. These measures will help to reduce the appeal of vapes to young people whilst still enabling them to be accessed and used by adult smokers seeking to quit.
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**
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** Asked by Jo Platt, Leigh and Atherton, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have applied for Government funding to support Trading Standards to tackle illicit activity on high streets; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority and funding programme.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan, Minister for Devolution, Local Growth and Communities, Labour

Tackling high street criminality is a priority for this government. On 19 May, the government announced a £30 million crackdown on illegal activity on the high street, over three years. £20 million of this will fund an enhanced law enforcement response and the creation of a new cross-government High Street Organised Crime Unit. £6 million will also be allocated to Trading Standards in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities.

A further £10 million of new funding per year will be provided to Trading Standards until 2028/29, to support the enforcement of illicit and underage tobacco and vape sales, and the implementation of the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. This includes recruitment of 120 new apprentices to ensure Trading Standards have a sustainable workforce for the future.

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** Links of the week
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** Factsheet: Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among adults in Great Britain

This ASH fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of vaping, nicotine, and other tobacco products among adults in Great Britain, examining trends in prevalence, patterns of use, motivations, product preferences, and public perceptions using data from a 2026 survey of over 13,000 adults. It finds that adult vaping has plateaued at around 10% of the population, is primarily concentrated among current and former smokers, but highlights persistent and growing public misconceptions about the relative harms of vaping compared with smoking.
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** Factsheet: Use of vapes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among young people in Great Britain

This ASH fact sheet summarises the latest evidence on vaping among 11–17-year-olds in Great Britain, examining trends in prevalence, patterns of use, motivations, product preferences, access, perceptions of harm, and the impact of recent regulations using data from the 2026 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey. It finds that while youth vaping has stabilised following earlier increases and smoking has continued to decline, concerns remain around easy access to vapes, widespread exposure to marketing, and growing misconceptions about the relative harms of vaping compared with smoking.
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** Press Release: ASH, AHA and OHA response to the Ethics and Integrity Commission's review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government

ASH, the Alcohol Health Alliance and the Obesity Health Alliance welcomed the Ethics and Integrity Commission’s recommendations on lobbying transparency, arguing that greater openness is needed to protect public health policy from undue commercial influence. They called for the public to have clearer visibility of who seeks to influence government decisions affecting health and wellbeing.
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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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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