Operation CLOUD Intensifies: Council Enforces New Single-Use Vape Ban from 1 June
From 1 June 2025, the sale of single use vapes will be officially banned across England under new national legislation designed to protect public health and the environment.
Birmingham City Council will continue to lead the way in enforcement through Operation CLOUD, its multi-agency crackdown on illicit tobacco, vape, and counterfeit goods.
The new legislation bans the supply of single-use vapes—also known as disposable vapes—across England. This includes both nicotine and non-nicotine products, whether sold in shops, at markets, or online. Retailers found in breach may face fines, product seizures, and legal action.
The Council’s Trading Standards team has already seized 14,243 illegal or non-compliant vapes across Birmingham from September 2024 to date. In support of the new law, the team carried out a Day of Action on Tuesday 3 June 2025 in partnership with West Midlands Police, targeting rogue traders and retailers who continue to stock banned or illicit vaping products.
The new legislation, announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is part of the government’s broader environmental and public health priorities. According to Defra, five million single use vapes are thrown away every week in the UK, contributing significantly to plastic and lithium battery waste, and often being marketed in a way that appeals to children.
Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities at Birmingham City Council, said:
“The ban on single-use vapes is a major step forward in protecting both our environment and our communities. These products are not only harmful to health and worryingly attractive to young people — they also create vast amounts of unnecessary plastic and battery waste. Birmingham’s Trading Standards team has already been doing fantastic work tackling the illegal vape trade through Operation CLOUD, and this new legislation gives us even greater power to act. We will continue to take robust enforcement action to safeguard our streets, our young people, and our planet.”
Operation CLOUD continues to target the supply chain of illicit goods in Birmingham, with enforcement focusing on high-risk premises and community intelligence. The Council is encouraging residents to report sales of single use vapes or other suspected illegal products by contacting Trading Standards via Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or online at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/tradingstandards.
For more information about the single use vape ban, visit the official government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-vapes-ban
