The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has outlined its response to the government’s consultation on the future of vaping, arguing for a measured approach to regulation. The trade group submitted its views on packaging and display rules as part of the ongoing Tobacco and Vapes Act discussions. The SGF believes that removing vaping products entirely from shop shelves would be counterproductive.
Flavor Identification and Packaging Rules
The SGF supports allowing coloured marks on packaging to help identify flavours. The submission states that such differentiation is necessary to distinguish between partial use of colour and identifying branding. The group suggested that coloured dots or lettering should be permitted to account for different product types. In its submission, which closed on 2 October, the SGF stated: “It is important to distinguish between the partial use of colour and identifying branding and promotional design. We think, therefore, that there should be some allowance for differentiation on packaging, such as a coloured dot or coloured naming/wording, to account for different product types and flavours.”
The SGF also argued that while flavour names should not appeal to children, they should not be limited for adult smokers. Simple fruit names like raspberry or lemon were cited as acceptable options. According to the trade group, flavours are a critical characteristic that helps prevent smokers from lapsing back to cigarettes. The SGF further stated that policymakers must recognise the potential unintended consequences of proposals that impact the operation of small local businesses. Over two thirds of former smokers prefer fruit, mint, and non-tobacco flavours, and a similar percentage say vapes helped them reduce or stop smoking.
Shutters and Illicit Trade Risks
The organisation also objected to a six-month implementation period for new measures, arguing it is not feasible on several grounds. The SGF stated that the minimum requirement should be 24 months. The SGF further stated in its submission that balancing the potential harms of vaping to young non-smokers against the clear benefits of vaping to adult smokers who wish to quit is an exceptionally difficult public policy issue. The Government is currently analysing responses to the consultation, with the initial results expected by the end of 2026.
