UK Vaping Products Duty Takes Effect: £2.20 per 10ml of E-Liquid
The UK's new Vaping Products Duty came into force on 1 October: all e-liquid sold in the UK is now taxed at £2.20 per 10ml, whether or not it contains nicotine. The duty is payable by manufacturers, importers and warehouse operators.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched a duty stamp scheme alongside the tax, with a six-month transition period: from 1 April 2027, vaping products sold at retail in the UK must carry a duty stamp. Tobacco duty rose at the same time, by £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50g of tobacco. Travellers entering the UK may bring in up to 50ml of e-liquid duty-free.
According to the health charity ASH, around 5.5 million people in Britain use vapes — roughly one in ten adults. The government says the tax is intended to curb youth vaping and tackle illicit products. John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), warned about the impact on prices, arguing that higher costs could push some consumers back to cigarettes or to the black market.
Britain has been tightening vape regulation in stages: disposable vapes were banned from sale earlier this year, and the duty is a further step. Its real effect on prices and behaviour will be judged against sales data in the months ahead.
Sources: Edinburgh Live and Grimsby Live, citing HMRC and ASH figures.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 电子烟使用特写，Vaper City 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
