The UK Government and the devolved administrations have announced a 12-week consultation on proposals to introduce plain packaging and new display restrictions for vapes, tobacco products and related items.
The consultation follows the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 receiving Royal Assent in April.
Proposals for vapes and nicotine products include restricting shop displays in the same way as tobacco products, introducing plain white packaging, limiting branding and imagery, and standardising safety information.
The consultation also proposes restricting flavour names to simple descriptions such as “Apple”, while banning concept and sensory names and those linked to confectionery, sweets, desserts and alcohol.
Manufacturers could also be required to make vape devices only in white, black or grey, with no images, limited branding, no cosmetic lights and screens displaying only safety information such as battery level.
For tobacco products, proposals include extending existing plain packaging requirements and health warnings to all tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers and heated tobacco devices.
Other proposals include introducing quit-support messages inside tobacco product packaging, extending display restrictions to additional tobacco-related products, and removing the display exemption currently available to bulk tobacconists, duty-free shops and airports.
Heated tobacco devices could also be restricted to a drab brown colour matching tobacco packaging, with limited branding, no images, no cosmetic lights and screens displaying only safety information.
No immediate changes to the law are being made at this stage. Regulations will be developed following analysis of consultation responses.
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation said it will review the consultation and engage with government to ensure the views and practical experiences of Scotland’s convenience retailers are represented.
