One of the recent changes in the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) defined ‘smoking cessation programme’ as: a programme that is funded (whether wholly or partly and whether directly or indirectly) by a public service with the intention of encouraging smokers to stop smoking.

Smoking cessation programmes (SCPs) receive certain exemptions under the SERPA in relation to vaping products which are not available to general retailers (dairies, petrol stations, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc.) outside of an SCP:

  • the distribution or supply of vaping products free or at a reduced charge by parties that are not Specialist Vape Retailers
  • from 11 August 2021, general retailers can sell or supply any flavour of vaping substance as part of an SCP (rather than just tobacco, mint or menthol flavours).