In June 2025, the sale and supply of single-use vapes became illegal in the UK.
For more information, we have a full guide to the new legislation.
In this post we will outline exactly which vapes are now legal, and which are illegal, in the UK.
If you sell vapes, either online or offline, we can help you get the specialist vape insurance you need at a price you can afford. For more information, call us on 0208 290 9080 or email ecig@anthonyjones.com.
Which Vapes Are Legal in the UK?
It is still legal to stock and sell reusable vapes in the UK. However, it is only legal to sell these products to people aged 18 or over, regardless of whether they contain nicotine.
This means the vape product must include:
- Refillable or replaceable chambers, pods, or tanks.
- Removable and replaceable coils.
- Rechargeable batteries.
But as we’ll explain below, the specific design of the vape matters. Even if the product has some of the features we’ve listed above, some aspects of its design might mean that it’s technically not reusable. Unless the vape product is totally reusable, then it’s illegal to stock or sell it.
Which Vapes Are Illegal in the UK?
It is illegal to stock and sell disposable or single-use vapes in the UK, whether or not they contain nicotine.
As well as standard disposable vapes, this ban extends to certain other styles of vape too. If any aspect of the vape’s design means it’s essentially not reusable, then you cannot sell it.
This includes vape devices in which the tank, battery, and mouthpiece are fixed together. This design would mean that you would not be able to access, remove, and replace the vape’s coil, which would mean that the vape is not entirely reusable.
Also, some “reusable” vapes will allow you to refill the tank and charge the battery, but will not allow you to replace the coil. These vapes are not strictly reusable either, as once the coil burns out, you will not be able to replace it, which means you’ll have to dispose of the entire vape.
So, unless the vape product is entirely reusable – meaning that you can recharge, refill, or replace the chamber, pod, tank, coil, and the battery – then it is illegal to stock it and sell it.
Other Illegal Vapes in the UK – Tank Sizes, Ingredients, and More
- The legal nicotine limit in the UK is 20mg/ml, or 2%. It is illegal to sell any vape product with a higher nicotine strength, even if it’s technically reusable.
- Any e-liquid that contains nicotine is restricted to a bottle size of 10ml. Some vape stores sell “short filled” e-liquids as a workaround – the bottle can be up to 120ml, with some room inside for the user to add their own nicotine.
- Vapes are not allowed to hold more than 2ml of e-liquid. Any vape with a tank capable of holding more than this will be illegal. Currently, “bubble glass” replacement tanks, which can boost a vape’s tank volume to 3m, are still legal.
- Certain e-liquid ingredients are banned in the UK. These include diactyl (which created a sweet, buttery flavour but raised health concerns), stimulant additives (including caffeine and taurine), formaldehyde, pentane 2,3 dione, metals, and some vitamins. You can find a full list of banned ingredients here.
How To Dispose of Your Unsellable Vape Stock
This new legislation came into force on 1 June 2025. Since then, it has been illegal to stock and sell any single-use or disposable vape product in the UK.
This new law may have left you with a lot of stock that you can no longer sell. But you shouldn’t just throw this stock away. Improper disposal of vape products can lead to fires. Instead, you’ll have to find a safe and sustainable means of disposing of your unsellable single-use vape stock.
Read our full guide to storing and disposing of your unsellable stock here.
Dedicated Insurance Cover For Vape Shops
If you sell vapes, either online or offline, we can help you get the specialist vape insurance you need at a competitive price.
We can also advise you on how your cover needs may change if you need to switch from selling disposable vapes to reusable vapes.
For more information, call us on 0208 290 9080 or email ecig@anthonyjones.com.
