Notification Detail | TRIS - European Commission

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Notification Number:

2024/7008/XI (UK/Northern Ireland)

Date received:

19/07/2024

End of Standstill:

22/10/2024

Draft Text:

EN BG HR CS DA NL ET FI FR GA DE EL HU IT LV LT MT PL PT RO SK SL ES SV

Impact assessment:

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Message

Message 701

Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2024) 1953

Procedure for the provision of information EC - United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland

Notification: 2024/7008/XI

Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt

Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna

MSG: 20241953.EN

1. MSG 701 IND 2024 7008 XI EN 19-07-2024 XI NOTIF

2. UK/Northern Ireland

3A. Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
London SW1

3B. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Extended Producer Responsibility Unit
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

4. 2024/7008/XI - S00E - ENVIRONMENT

5. The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

6. Single-use vapes

7.

8. The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 introduces the prohibition of sale and supply of single-use vapes in Northern Ireland. This policy has been developed along with the other nations of the United Kingdom ( England Scotland and Wales) and it is anticipated that similar domestic regulations will be brought forward by all UK nations to bring in a ban. It is anticipated that the four nations will align with the bringing into force dates between all UK nations.
The regulations will define vapes as being single-use when they are not re-useable. Vapes that are not re-useable are those which are non-refillable or not rechargeable and not refillable and not rechargeable.The regulations will make it an offence to supply, offer to supply or have in their possession to supply a single-use vape. This will be whether selling or not in the course of a business.The regulations will mean a person convicted will be subject to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or if convicted on indictment to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to a fine or both.
There are internal market considerations for the UK hence the joined up approach in formulating policy, drafting legislation and delivery timeframe. This notifcation is being carried out as this legislation will place a technical regulation on single-use vapes.

9. The use of disposable single-use vapes is increasing and with it the use of valuable resources that cannot be replaced. The single-use vape uses plastics, metals, packaging materials and battery components and are a wasteful use of valuable resources which are difficult to recycle and evidence indicates they are harmful to the environment. Action is needed to prevent further waste and on-going risks to the environment. Many of the parts of the vapes go into landfilll are incinerated or are illegally dumped or littered. It is estimated that the numbers and amounts of single-use vapes which are being used in the UK is rising yearly. It is currently estimated there are 5 million single-use vapes thrown away or littered every week in the UK. The volumes of single-use vapes which are increasing year on year is concerning as they are not easily recycled and breaking them down into their component parts can be expensive meaning the ability to recycle is prohibitive in terms of cost.
A ban is considered necessary to achieve the required protection of the environment in a reasonable timeframe while allowing a period of time for businesses to adjust to the ban (6 month period). There are alternatives as the ban will not apply to reuseable vapes therefore vaping will still be possible by choosing alternative reuseable options. In this respect the restriction of the ban to disposable (single-use) only is proportionate in approach to what it is intended to achieve.

10. References of the Basic Texts: No Basic Text exists

11. No

12.

13. No

14. No

15. Yes

16.
TBT aspects:
The draft is a technical regulation or a conformity assessment

SPS aspects: No

**********
European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu

Disclosed messages

message-id	Year	Number	Country	Type	Title	Date received	Is answer to
108899	2024	1954	COMEuropean Commission	703	Receipt of the draft text	19-07-2024
108900	2024	1955	COMEuropean Commission	037	Competitiveness analysis	19-07-2024

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