
E-Cig Laws To Be Reversed By Brexit Britain?
Could British vapers be buying big e-liquid bottles and big vape tanks again soon? Proposals to reverse legislative e-cigarette and vaping restrictions from the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive have taken a step further in Parliament, with a second reading and a debate scheduled for tomorrow (Friday).
The Tobacco Products Directive was formally introduced on May 20th 2017, making an array of alterations to vaping products, advertising and to the e-cigarette industry. The bill, cited as Electronic Cigarettes (Regulation) Act 2018, is proposed to take effect on 30 March 2019, which is around the time the UK should formally leave the European Union and a transitional period will commence.
It should be noted that this bill is to regulate e-cigarettes only, so legislation that has affected the tobacco industry will not be altered. Parliament has passed the EU Withdrawal Bill, which will implement all current EU laws into UK law, which of course includes the Tobacco Products Directive.
Parts of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 that the UK legislature are trying to revoke include;
Many politicians have been critical of the Tobacco Products Directive, with a member of the House of Lords even labelling the regulation as "North Korean stuff". The process of a bill from first reading to Royal Assent is a long one. The first reading of the bill took place on 5/9/2017, with the second reading and debated scheduled for Friday the 16th of March in the House of Commons.
The next steps are as follows:
You can check on the progress of the Electronic Cigarettes Regulations Act (2018) here. To find out more about the Tobacco Products Directive, check out our guide to TPD changes at Community Support.
The Tobacco Products Directive was formally introduced on May 20th 2017, making an array of alterations to vaping products, advertising and to the e-cigarette industry. The bill, cited as Electronic Cigarettes (Regulation) Act 2018, is proposed to take effect on 30 March 2019, which is around the time the UK should formally leave the European Union and a transitional period will commence.
It should be noted that this bill is to regulate e-cigarettes only, so legislation that has affected the tobacco industry will not be altered. Parliament has passed the EU Withdrawal Bill, which will implement all current EU laws into UK law, which of course includes the Tobacco Products Directive.
Parts of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 that the UK legislature are trying to revoke include;
- Part 6 (electronic cigarettes).
- Part 7 (electronic cigarette advertising).
- “an electronic cigarettes etc” from regulation 47.
- “an electronic cigarette or a refill container” from regulation 47 (cross-border distance sales…)
- Subparagraphs (d) and (e) from regulation 48 (offences)
Many politicians have been critical of the Tobacco Products Directive, with a member of the House of Lords even labelling the regulation as "North Korean stuff". The process of a bill from first reading to Royal Assent is a long one. The first reading of the bill took place on 5/9/2017, with the second reading and debated scheduled for Friday the 16th of March in the House of Commons.
The next steps are as follows:
- Committee Stage
- Report Stage
- Third Reading
- First reading
- Second Reading
- Committee Stage
- Report Stage
- Third Reading
You can check on the progress of the Electronic Cigarettes Regulations Act (2018) here. To find out more about the Tobacco Products Directive, check out our guide to TPD changes at Community Support.