A SCRUTINY panel has “strongly urged” politicians to support a ban on single-use vapes in Jersey next year – but has raised “future questions” on the “potential to extend bans for health reasons”.
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel welcomed the Infrastructure Minister’s plans to extend the Island’s existing legislation around single-use plastics to include disposable e-cigarettes.
Constable Andy Jehan’s proposition to “address the environmental impact of single use vapes” is due to be debated at this week’s States sitting, which begins today.
If approved, a six-month transition period will be offered to allow businesses to manage remaining stock, with full enforcement expected by mid-2025.
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%.
The Scrutiny panel said the proposed ban was a “positive move” in tackling the take-up of nicotine use among young people, rather than adults who already use nicotine products.
The panel added: “The removal of disposable vapes from the market does also seem to have been weighed to ensure that those users who are using vapes as the first line to stopping smoking still have access to products.
“Refillable and re-useable vapes will remain available and Help to Quit Services remain in place.”
The Scrutiny panel also praised the proposed ban as being “based on a sound environmental principle” with “additional societal benefits” – but noted that there are “future questions to be raised on the potential to extend bans for health reasons”.
It added: “It is the panel’s hope that, as and when the government explores options for potential taxation of vapes or widening regulation which focuses on the public health impact of nicotine products more generally, this will receive appropriate scrutiny at that time.”
