A ban on the supply and sale of disposable vapes in the north will come into force on June 1 next year, Stormont’s environment minister has confirmed.
The ban on selling vape devices that cannot be refilled will begin on the same day as bans in England, Scotland and Wales.
Legislation to prevent single-use vapes being sold in Northern Ireland specifically is being brought by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and follows UK-wide consultation on smoking and vaping that was launched last year that found support among respondents from the north for a ban.
The environmental legislation is separate from the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill that is currently making its way through parliament, which will ban those born after 2009 from ever being legally sold tobacco.
That legislation will also allow for the regulation of vape packaging and flavours available for refillable devices.
The Scottish Parliament’s ban on the sale of disposable vapes has already been passed and had been due to begin next April, but the date has been moved back to June 1 to match the rest of the UK.
The Irish government is also planning to ban the devices, which include popular brands such as Elfbar and Lost Mary.
It is estimated that up to five million disposable vapes each week are thrown away instead of being properly recycled, with many ending up as litter.
Guidance for businesses currently selling disposable vapes will be published later this month on the DAERA website.
DAERA minister Andrew Muir said: “The environmental damage created by the rise in the littering and incorrect disposal of used vapes, as well as their poor recyclability, is a key concern for me.
“Single use vape waste can have a devastating impact on our environment and biodiversity and I welcome this ban which will have better benefits for our environment and consequently for our general health and well-being.”
In the UK consultation, 84.9% of Northern Ireland respondents backed a ban on disposable vapes.
Mr Muir said UK alignment on the ban and the soon-to-be published guidance “will help provide clarity for businesses which are currently selling single use vaping products”.
