Written question WQ100379

The Welsh Government is committed to preventing children and young people from taking up vaping, while recognising that vaping can have a role in supporting adult smokers to quit. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s systematic review on the impact of vaping on children and young people reinforces the importance of taking further action to reduce the appeal and accessibility of vaping products to children, highlighting significant health consequences across a number of domains.

Following Royal Assent of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 on 29 April 2026, and as a result of close collaboration between the four nations, a UK-wide consultation on proposals to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine product packaging, vape device appearance and retail displays was launched on 10 July 2026. The consultation closes on 2 October 2026. The proposals include mandating plain white packaging for vaping products, restrictions on packaging and vape device appearance, limits on flavour descriptors, and restrictions on the display of vaping products in retail premises.

No commencement date has yet been set for any regulations implementing changes to packaging, appearance and retail display requirements. The timetable of implementation will depend on consideration of consultation responses, further policy development and the preparation and passage of secondary legislation. The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with the UK Government and the other devolved governments to progress this work as quickly as is practicable.

The consultation includes proposals to restrict flavour descriptors. These include requiring a single, lead recognised flavour; restricting hyphenated or combined flavour names; prohibiting concept or sensory descriptions; and restricting food and drink categories that particularly appeal to children. The consultation does not, however, propose restrictions on the ingredients used in vapes or on the flavours that may be sold.

Whilst the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 includes powers enabling the Secretary of State to make regulations about the substances that may be included in, and the flavour of, vaping products, Baroness Merron confirmed during the passage of the Act through Parliament the UK Government’s commitment to consult on regulating flavour descriptors as a first step before considering broader restrictions on flavoured ingredients.

To support policy development on potential future regulations on tobacco, vapes and nicotine products, including vape ingredients and flavours, the UK Government ran a call for evidence between October and December 2025. I am aware the UK Government intends to consult on this area as soon as is practicable following the conclusion of the current consultation on packaging, appearance and display. Whilst this work is progressing, I will continue to make clear the need for robust action to protect children and young people from nicotine addiction and from vaping products designed or marketed in ways that appeal to them.