Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to tackle illicit (1) tobacco, and (2) vape, sales to underage young people.

Tackling illicit tobacco: From leaf to light The HMRC and Border Force strategy to tackle tobacco smuggling was published in May 2015. This strategy implements an approach to address illicit tobacco across the Government through agencies such as the Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs, local Trading Standards and working with other enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and overseas to disrupt, deter and punish those involved. A copy of the strategy is attached.

In 2019, HM Revenue and Customs introduced the UK system for the tracking and tracing of legitimate cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco manufactured in or imported into the UK and through the supply chain to retail. There are plans to legislate to introduce greater sanctions for non-compliance, which includes a civil penalty of up to £10,000 for serious breaches. In 2020, the Government introduced funding for HM Revenue and Customs and National Trading Standards to address the trade in illicit tobacco through Project CeCe and support regional co-operation.

We have a strong regulatory framework to deter the appeal of vaping to children by restricting product advertising, limits on nicotine strength, labelling and safety requirements, a duty to notify products to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and making it illegal to sell vapes and tobacco to those aged under 18 years old. The Department continues to work with enforcement agencies to ensure these regulations are enforced in England. The Government is currently considering recommendations on illicit tobacco and measures to deter children from vaping and further information will be available in due course.