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Single-use vapes could be banned in Jersey next year under plans proposed by the Infrastructure Minister.
Constable Andy Jehan today lodged a proposition to extend the island's existing legislation around single-use plastics to include disposable e-cigarettes.
The proposals are set to be debated by the States Assembly in December.
If approved, a six-month transition period will be offered to allow businesses to manage remaining stock, with full enforcement expected by mid-2025.
Pictured: Last year, a joint investigation by Express and the JEP revealed that local shops were selling vapes that would be illegal in the UK.
The proposed ban comes in response to a rapid increase in the popularity of disposable vapes, particularly among young islanders, with Public Health statistics revealing that 96% of local children and young people who vape opt for single-use vapes.
Recent engagements with Jersey students found that in a group of 15 to 17-year-olds, the daily vaping use was 81.25%.
A joint investigation by Bailiwick Express and the Jersey Evening Post last year revealed how sweet-inspired flavours, highlighter-style packaging, and a lack of regulation meaning products that are illegal in the UK can still be sold locally had helped spawn what one local doctor described as a "generation of nicotine-addicted kids" in Jersey.
Announcing the propositions today, the Infrastructure Minister said: “Single-use vapes are both environmentally unsustainable and pose significant disposal challenges.
"This legislation will protect our community by reducing waste, encouraging more sustainable habits, and safeguarding our island’s environmental future.”
Pictured: The report accompanying the proposition shows the inside of a single use vape – which typically includes plastic, copper and a lithium battery.
The proposed amendment to the Single-Use Plastics (Restrictions) Law will:
The report accompanying the proposition explained: "The proposed ban aims to address the environmental impact of single use vapes.
"Finite resources are used in the manufacture of these devices that have a lifespan of a few days, and the management of this increasing waste stream is problematic and costly."
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