UK Launches Call for Evidence to Shape New Tobacco and Vapes Regulations

Key Highlights

• Call for evidence for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is open until December 3, 2025.
• Aims to comprehensively regulate product features, focusing on restricting child-appealing flavors and designs.
• Plans to introduce a retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and NI to tighten control over sales.
• A new product registration system will replace the current notification process to enhance safety standards.
• The ultimate goal is to create a smoke-free generation and effectively curb youth vaping.

2Firsts,November 3, 2025 — According to the UK's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the government has officially launched an extensive call for evidence to support the development of regulations under the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This eight-week process marks a significant move in the UK's journey towards creating a "smoke-free generation" and tackling the pressing issue of youth vaping.

The central objective of this initiative is to build an evidence-based foundation for a series of stringent future regulations. At the product level, the government is focused on reducing the appeal of vapes to minors. 

The call for evidence covers restricting flavors in vapes and nicotine products, especially fruit and sweet profiles like 'berry blast' or 'vanilla custard' that are considered highly attractive to children. 

The government is also assessing the need to regulate product appearance, such as banning bright colors, cartoon branding, and designs that make vapes resemble stationery or other items. 

Furthermore, evidence on ingredient safety is being sought, including the potential risks of flavorings upon inhalation, issues of heavy metal contamination, and setting appropriate nicotine limits for emerging products like nicotine pouches.

In a revolutionary move for market access and sales, the government plans to introduce a comprehensive retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

The bill grants powers to mandate that any business selling tobacco, vapes, or related nicotine products must hold both a "personal license" and a "premises license." This policy aims to tie the right to sell directly to retailer compliance, effectively cracking down on illegal underage sales and the circulation of illicit products. 

The government is seeking evidence to shape the specifics of this scheme, including eligibility criteria, fee structures, license duration, and how it will apply to online retailers. Notably, Scotland will continue to enhance its existing retailer register rather than adopting the new licensing model.

Simultaneously, the government intends to replace the current, outdated notification system with a new, more robust product registration scheme. The existing system is considered to have loopholes, as it lacks effective means to verify information submitted by manufacturers and does not cover all products, such as non-nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches. 

The new registration scheme would require all tobacco, vape, and nicotine products to be registered before they can be placed on the market, mandating the submission of detailed information on ingredients, emissions, and health risks. 

This framework may also introduce compulsory product testing and a formal "responsible person" requirement to ensure the accuracy and traceability of product data, thereby safeguarding consumers from the source.

This call for evidence is open to all members of society, including academics, healthcare professionals, enforcement agencies, retailers, manufacturers, and the general public. 

The DHSC has stated that all submitted evidence will be carefully analyzed to formulate draft policies, which will be subject to a formal public consultation in the future. The final regulations will strive to balance the goal of supporting adult smokers in switching to less harmful alternatives with the imperative of protecting children from the harms of nicotine addiction.

Image source: UK Department of Health and Social Care