Written questions

Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco: Retail Trade

Commons · Question 109791 · Tabled 30 Jan 2026 · Department of Health and Social Care · Official record

Answered 16 Mar 2026

Question

Asked by Andrew Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of the use of (a) licence transfers and (b) changes of company ownership to avoid enforcement action in the tobacco and vaping retail sector.

Answer

Answered by Sharon Hodgson, 16 Mar 2026

There is currently no requirement for a business in the United Kingdom to obtain a licence to sell tobacco, vapes, or nicotine products. This is in contrast to some other retail activities that pose a risk of harm to the public, such as the sale of alcoho...