The island of Jersey plans to ban the sale or supply of disposable vapes from June 2025.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan wants to amend the Jersey Single Use Plastics Law, which currently covers plastic and paper bags, to ban non-recyclable vapes.
"This is a ban on single-use vapes,” he said. “We're trying to reduce the amount of waste that is created by these products.
"I'm looking at this from an environmental aspect, I'm sure there are other concerns around health, but single-use vapes are unsustainable.
"They give us big challenges in terms of their disposal. What we're looking to do is to reduce the waste and encourage people to have more sustainable habits.
"It's about not having thousands of plastics thrown on the street and into the gutter."
Constable Andy Jehan, who presented the plan to the States Assembly last week, added: “The increasing popularity of single-use vapes means there are more vapes being disposed of in various ways, all of which are problematic,” he said.
“The use of materials including plastics, metals and a lithium battery in each single use device starkly contrasts with sustainability commitments to reduce waste, maximise resources and reorientate behaviour towards the circular economy."
Similar timeline to UK ban
The States Assembly is set to debate the proposal in December and would aim to implement a new law on a similar timeline to the UK where disposable vapes will be banned from June 2025.
"Hopefully we can debate this in December and then hopefully it will be a similar timeline to the UK,” Constable Jehan said.
"We want to give retailers time to sell the products that they've already got in stock and make sure we have the regulation in force for mid 2025."
The island of Guernsey is also planning to ban disposable vapes, with States Members voting overwhelmingly in favour of the move in May 2024. Unlike the UK, there are currently no restrictions over who can buy vapes in Guernsey - leaving the decision down to the individual sellers.
Under-18s will also be prohibited from buying any vape under the new laws proposed by the Health and Social Care department.
Fears over black market boom
However, vaping advocates argue that banning disposable vapes will simply fuel black market sales of unregulated products and put smokers off of quitting, and therefore do more harm than good.
Other countries to have banned disposable vapes include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, North Korea, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, and Iran.
In Australia, tight restrictions on vapes has led to a booming black market where rival criminal gangs are embroiled in fire wars. And in Brazil, where all vapes have been banned since 2009, more people are said to vape than ever. Consumers there simply buy the products online or from abroad.
