Preparing for Disposable E-cigarette Ban: Guidance for UK Retailers

Key Points:

• The majority of convenience store owners in the UK have begun preparing for the disposable e-cigarette ban, which goes into effect on June 1st, with over half of stores reducing the variety of related products.
• Booker has released a guide advising store owners to ensure their staff are aware of the ban, recommend alternative products, and complete the task of reducing non-compliant products by the end of April.
• Retailers are feeling confused about the influx of both compliant and non-compliant new products, experts suggest consulting the official registry of compliant products to distinguish compliant products.

According to a report from Better Retailing on March 21st, the majority of independent convenience store owners in the UK have started preparing for the ban on disposable e-cigarettes, which comes into effect on June 1st.

A survey conducted by Newtrade Media, the publisher of Better Retailing, with over 200 retailers, showed that over half of the stores have already reduced their range of e-cigarette products. However, many other important measures that need to be implemented before the ban takes effect have not yet been put in place.

British wholesale distributor Booker has released a guide on how to prepare for a ban. The guide advises that shop owners should currently ensure their staff have a "full understanding" of the impending law, are able to "confidently" discuss it with customers, and recommends alternative products that can still be sold after the ban.

According to Booker's advice, tasks that need to be completed by the end of April include reducing the variety of disposable e-cigarettes, increasing the display space for remaining products, and introducing more compliant product categories. Booker's ultimate task is to clear all non-compliant inventory and replace them with alternatives, with a focus on the "leading four brands" - Elfbar, SKE, Lost Mary, and IVG.

Despite limited time, retailers report feeling confused when faced with a surge of new products, both compliant and non-compliant. These new products are often introduced as "closed-system e-cigarette systems," and their prices, appearance, and even names are similar to non-compliant products.

Natalie Lightfoot, from the Londis Solo convenience store in Glasgow, told Better Retailing:

We are still confused about the definition of closed e-cigarette systems, as some recently launched e-cigarettes do not seem to comply. We will rely on big brands and our research.

The Public Affairs Manager of ACS, Daniel Askew, suggests that businesses consult the official compliance product registration list of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). He revealed, "They are currently removing non-compliant disposable e-cigarette products and halting applications for new 'disposable' products. Once the ban takes effect, these products will not be allowed to appear on the list.