THE Scottish Government has been urged to introduce a licensing system for vapes to help prevent the “huge amount of damage” they cause to people’s health.
Regulations around retailers selling vapes and tobacco products in Scotland are “very poor” according to the Scottish Greens, who are calling for a licensing scheme similar to selling alcohol.
The party said that unlike selling alcohol there is currently no fee to register and “little incentive” for retailers to follow the rules.
They added that lack of regulation has partly led to vapes being sold in “random locations” such as barbers and phone shops.
Greens MSP Gillian Mackay is calling for a scheme similar to alcohol sales, which would give councils the ability to refuse licenses along with granting them the authority to hand out stronger repercussions for those who break the rules.
“The tobacco and vaping industries are doing a huge amount of damage to the health of people in Scotland and beyond, yet they remain very poorly regulated,” she said.
“A robust licensing scheme can tip the balance and ensure that we are taking action to put health before the profits of an industry which all too often targets young people and encourages addictive and harmful behaviours.
“Local authorities should have the power to refuse licences and introduce proper repercussions including the removal of a licence for retailers who flout the rules.”
Currently fines for those who break the rules are only fixed penalty notices which have a smaller limit.
There is a mechanism for a ban from selling nicotine based products but that ban can only last a maximum of 12 months.
Mackay (above) said the incoming ban on disposable vapes, due on April 1, will be “a really important milestone” for public health but said retailers will also need to play their part.
She said vape-selling licenses should be conditional and that retailers should be made to provide recycling points and services.
“If the registration fee was set at a rate that would more than cover the costs of administering the scheme it could also raise vital revenues for councils to support the services that we all rely on,” Mackay said.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto (above) said the Scottish Government is already working on improving the register for vapes and tobacco and is “considering” introducing further conditions.
She said: “Scotland is the only country in the UK that requires retailers selling both tobacco and vapes to be registered. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if passed, will mean that the register will be extended to cover nicotine and herbal smoking products.
“As part of our Tobacco and Vaping Framework, we are improving the register and considering possible further conditions on registration.”
