ACS has called on the Government to provide Trading Standards in England with an additional £140m over the next five years to fund a new battalion of 400 enforcement officers, aimed at tackling the rising tide of illegal vape devices being distributed in England.
ACS has welcomed confirmation from the government that the introduction of deposit return schemes in the UK will be pushed back to October 2027, subject to agreement from the devolved administrations.
In a written ministerial statement published this morning (April 25th), Robbie Moore MP confirmed that the previously scheduled October 2025 go live date for a deposit return scheme was a ‘stretching target’ and that an October 2027 implementation would be required to ensure that the rollout of schemes was effective and efficient.
The Government has published the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, confirming the introduction of a ban on the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009.
The Bill contains enabling powers for the Secretary of State to introduce a wide range of restrictions on the vaping category, including limitations on a number of areas including:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the publication of regulations outlining the Government’s plans to ban disposable vapes, highlighting the huge financial impact that the ban will have on retailers.
With Budget due to be launched next Wednesday 6th March, ACS (The Association of Convenience Stores) are hoping to see Chancellor Jeremy Hunt provide support for retail and convenience stores by addressing rising costs in business rates, employment, and the cost of providing access to cash. In its submission ahead of Budget, ACS highlighted the importance of providing support to thousands of stores and extending retail, hospitality, and leisure reliefs to protect them from cost uncertainty from business rates in the medium term.
It's frustrating that policy-makers still seem to think that banning something will mean it ceases to exist. The Scottish Government has published the statutory instrument it will use to ban disposable vapes and by the time you read this Westminster may well have followed suit, with both jurisdictions deliberately using the parliamentary mechanism that will attract the least debate and attention.
ACS has written to the Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP, raising concerns about the impact that a ban on disposable vapes would have on responsible retailers.
The Scottish Government set out its plans to go ahead with a ban on disposable vapes last week with the publication of draft regulations and a two week consultation period. The ban is scheduled to come into force in April 2025.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Government’s decision to continue exempting small shops from unit pricing regulations.
In its response to the consultation on improving price transparency and product information for consumers, the Department of Business and Trade has concluded that there is no compelling case for removing the exemption. The majority of respondents to the consultation, including ACS, supported this outcome.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Chancellor to hold back the tide of rising costs for local shops in key areas like business rates, employment, and the cost of providing access to cash.
The number of free to use cash machines available in the UK has fallen by almost 30% in the last five years, according to new figures from the Association of Convenience Stores.
