Trading Standards given new powers to tackle illegal vape and nicotine products
NEW measures taking effect across England this month will give Trading Standards teams stronger powers to keep vape and nicotine products out of the hands of children and young people.
The next major milestone in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 will strengthen Reading Trading Standards' ability to tackle illegal tobacco, vapes and nicotine products and penalise rogue retailers. It builds on recent successful enforcement operations across the town.
From Thursday 29 October, it will be illegal to sell any vaping or nicotine product to a person under 18, or to purchase these products on their behalf, known as proxy purchasing.
Retailers will need to apply Challenge 25 policies consistently to nicotine vapes, non-nicotine vapes, nicotine pouches and other nicotine products.
Meanwhile, the sale of vaping or nicotine products through vending machines also becomes an offence, and retailers, event organisers and promotional campaigns will be banned from offering free vape or nicotine samples.
The Act will be added to Schedule 5 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, giving Trading Standards officers new powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for a range of offences, including:
- Underage sales
- Proxy sales
- Free distribution offences
- Tobacco notices and display restriction breaches
Retailers face FPNs of up to £200, reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days. Failure to pay may result in formal prosecution.
Cllr Rachel Eden, Lead Councillor for Education and Public Health at Reading Borough Council, said:
"This is a welcome step forward in protecting young people from the harms of smoking and nicotine addiction.
“Reading fully supports the ambition to create a smoke-free generation, and this legislation will strengthen the successful work already undertaken to tackle illegal sales and keep our residents safe and healthy.
“Alongside these changes, free, round-the-clock support to quit smoking is available to Reading residents through Smoke Free, a clinically proven app: https://link.smokefreeapp.com/readingres.”
Cllr Finn McGoldrick, Lead Member for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:
“Most businesses in Reading comply with the law, but where children and young people are put at risk, we now have stronger tools to act.
“We work closely with partners and businesses to support compliance, but we will act against those who sell tobacco, vapes or nicotine products illegally. These new powers will help us protect young people and support responsible retailers.”
ENDS