The Scottish Government is joining England and Wales by publishing draft legislation to ban disposable e-cigarettes, reports the Independent.

In a bid to create a smoke-free generation, Scotland is joining England and Wales by moving one step closer to banning disposable e-cigarettes. According to the Independent, the draft legislation will be open for consultation until 8 March and will then be taken forward using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Should the legislation be approved by Parliament, the sale and supply of disposable e-cigarettes will be banned by April 2025.
Circular economy minister Lorna Slater said Scotland had worked closely with England and Wales to agree on a date for bringing in the ban.
“Legislating to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes fulfils a Programme for Government commitment to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and take action to tackle the environmental impact,” she said.
“From causing fires in waste facilities to more than 26 million disposable vapes being consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the past year, single-use vapes are a threat to our environment as well as to our public health,” she added.
Furthermore, like England, Scotland aims to make purchasing tobacco illegal for anyone born after 1 January 2009. In order for the UK-wide legislation to go ahead, a legislative consent motion is needed in Scotland, reports the Independent.