
Scottish Grocers' Federation helping Lanarkshire retailers prepare for upcoming single-use vaping products sale ban
The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) is helping retailers in Lanarkshire to prepare for a legal milestone - and stay on the right side of the law
Shop staff in Lanarkshire are being urged not to be caught out by the upcoming ban on selling single-use vaping products.
The SGF is highlighting how single-use vapes – including those which are non-refillable and non-rechargable - will be banned from June 1, with the Scottish Government bringing in the new law in-line with the rest of the UK.
SGF, the convenience store trade body, has issued an updated retailers' guide on regulations for vaping and tobacco compliance, as well as a poster which it is encouraging members to display in their stores.
Pete Cheema, SGF's chief executive, said: 'Our members, including those across Lanarkshire, are committed to responsible local retailing and operating within the law.
'It's important that we do all we can to help ensure they are fully prepared for this significant change, so that staff and customers are all properly educated about what the new law entails.
'There is no transitional period in play here. From June 1, it will be an offence for a person or business to supply or offer to supply single-use vapes - or have them in their possession for supply. Any leftover stock come that date must be discontinued and stored separately from items for sale, clearly marked as 'not for sale'.
'We are recommending that any of our members with concerns about complying with the ban contact their local trading standards team to ensure they are operating within the law.'
SGF is working with Police Scotland and trading standards nationally to help ensure its members comply with the ban - as well as to clampdown on any illicit trade after June 1.
Those found to have broken the law could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.
The new law - The Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 - is the first of two major legal changes around the use and sale of vaping products.
Further regulations are expected to be introduced through the UK Government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords.
This is expected to be introduced in Scotland through secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
SGF continues to oppose restrictions on flavour in vaping products, a proven factor in helping people switch from cigarettes to less harmful vapes.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Tories demand Reeves ‘urgently rule out' investment tax hikes
The Tories claim scrapping the £500 dividend allowance will drag an estimated 5.22 million more people into paying investment levies. The party is seeking to pile pressure on ministers after a memo sent by Angela Rayner to Ms Reeves, in which the Deputy Prime Minister suggested a series of tax hikes, was leaked to the press. In the document, Ms Rayner proposed removing the dividend allowance to raise around £325 million a year in revenue, as well as axing inheritance tax relief for AIM shares and increasing dividend tax rates, the Telegraph reported. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'The Government need to urgently rule out these tax hikes on savers and investors before speculation causes further economic harm. 'Labour don't understand how business works and how to create growth. More taxes on investment, entrepreneurship and saving are the last thing our economy needs right now.' The Government's U-turns over welfare reform and winter fuel payments have left the Chancellor with a multibillion-pound black hole to fill, fuelling speculation that she will seek to raise revenue through tax hikes. The Tories claimed axing the dividend allowance would drag 'an estimated 5.22 million more people into paying dividend tax'. This figure appears to be based on an assumption that at least 8.82 million people in the UK hold shares that pay dividends. Some 3.6 million are already subject to dividend tax, according to data obtained by investment platform AJ Bell through a Freedom of Information request. The Chancellor last year said she would not be 'coming back with more borrowing or more taxes' after her first budget but has since refused to rule out raising specific levies, saying it would be 'irresponsible' to do so. A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'The Conservatives have some brass neck. They've still not apologised for the damage caused by the Liz Truss mini-Budget, nor the £22 billion black hole they left – which hammered firms and families across the country. 'Labour is doing more to support business than the Tories ever could. 'We've already delivered three historic trade deals and four interest rate cuts – to reduce costs and put money back in people's pockets.'


Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Scottish space company gets launch licence but is still searching for a pad
A Scottish space company is celebrating a 'huge milestone' after it was granted a launch operator licence for one of its rockets. However, Skyrora is still searching for a pad to blast off from, with none available this year at least. The company, which has a factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, have been granted a launch licence for its suborbital rocket, Skylark. Later, the company hopes to use a much larger rocket called XL to deliver satellites into orbit. The licence enables Skyrora to launch from the UK's licensed 'vertical launch' spaceport: SaxaVord on the northernmost point of the Shetland Islands. But there are not currently any pads free there. Volodymyr Levykin spoke to the PA news agency just before the launch licence was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He said Skylark, a single-stage rocket measuring almost 12 metres long, would go 'up and down' when it launches – taking a 50 kilo payload to an altitude of about 500 kilometres (310 miles). If successful, this will mean it crosses the boundary into space but it will not deliver a satellite into orbit. Mr Levykin said of the licence: 'This is a huge milestone for us because at least half of the work, maybe 70% has been done. Looking forward to actually launching. 'The whole application was based on SaxaVord in Shetland Isles as a launch location, however, there are some room for adjustments and flexibility.' Mr Levykin said SaxaVord 'is not available any more for us to launch, this year at least'. Earlier this year, another space company called Orbex announced it would move its launch operation to SaxaVord from the under-construction Sutherland Spaceport on Scotland's north coast. Mr Levykin said his company is now considering other options, including potentially using the Sutherland site vacated by Orbex. He said: 'At the moment we're trying to figure out – what is the legal structure, what is owned, what is not owned? 'What is the capacity of the current management, the jurisdiction? 'But you take this apart – practically, it's absolutely do-able because we have the mobile launch concept.' He said this would allow Skyrora to launch its rocket in a variety of locations around Europe with just a few days of preparation. In October 2022, the company attempted to launch Skylark from Iceland, but a software problem led to it falling into the sea just after lift-off. Ultimately, Skyrora wants to use its 23-metre XL rocket to launch about eight times a year, to capitalise on the burgeoning global demand for small satellite launches. They are aiming to do the initial test-firing of this rocket's first stage this year, though the location has not yet been revealed. It would involve nine engines firing at the same time. Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's business minister, said: 'Securing the UK's first launch operator licence is a landmark moment in Skyrora's plans to become the first company in the UK to build and launch a rocket into space.' UK aviation and space minister Mike Kane said: 'I am thrilled we've reached this important milestone in the UK space sector, and I congratulate Skyrora for being the first UK company to receive a rocket launch licence.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. 'Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment.' UK space minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'The award of the first-ever licence to a UK firm to launch satellites from British soil is a landmark moment for our burgeoning space sector – as well as a clear statement of intent. 'Demand for satellites in Europe alone is expected to be worth 50 billion US dollars (£37 billion) by 2033 and having the homegrown capacity to launch satellites stands to pull lucrative contracts and investment into the UK. 'But this isn't all just jam tomorrow. This is an industry that is creating jobs and driving growth right across the UK right now, including Scotland where Skyrora is based and from where their rockets will launch. 'As part of our modern industrial strategy, we are determined to unleash the space industry's full economic potential – rocket-boosting the plan for change.'


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Class warfare is back under this spiteful government – and we will ALL end up paying a ruinous price: LEO MCKINSTRY
The current government is increasingly running not on a desire to improve the country, or out of any kind of political mission - but on sheer spite. Having failed to achieve the elusive economic 'growth' he and his inept Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised before the election, Sir Keir Starmer is now trying to revive his fortunes by stoking class envy.