Rogue traders and shops selling illegal vapes or tobacco to children across North Yorkshire could soon face stricter penalties under a revised enforcement policy.
Stricter penalties and innovative enforcement tools will soon target rogue traders selling illegal vapes and tobacco to children across North Yorkshire.
Fixed penalty notices could be introduced for specific offences under the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. These new fines will sit alongside existing enforcement options, which include full criminal prosecution for businesses that deliberately break the law and sell restricted products to minors.
The updated framework is designed to help trading standards officers respond more effectively to a growing range of threats to residents and legitimate businesses. The revised policy will be put before North Yorkshire Council’s executive for approval at a meeting on Tuesday, October 27.
This local clampdown comes as trading standards services nationwide tackle an increasingly complex array of issues. National figures reveal that authorities seized more than 1.19 million illegal vapes in England between 2023 and 2024.
Furthermore, the national data highlights the scale of the problem regarding underage sales, showing that almost a quarter of all test purchases during that period resulted in vapes being sold unlawfully to children.
Alongside physical sales, the new framework formally recognises pioneering work targeting online scams. The National Trading Standards e-Crime Team, which is jointly hosted in North Yorkshire and by the City of York Council, works directly with online platforms and service providers to take down misleading websites and digital content.
This digital approach helps protect consumers from overseas operations that falsely present themselves as legitimate United Kingdom businesses. These fraudulent sites often leave shoppers out of pocket by selling poor-quality or misdescribed goods, or by failing to deliver the purchased products altogether.
The proposed changes align with wider council strategies to keep people safe and healthy, whilst ensuring local businesses and communities can continue to thrive. Residents and business owners who wish to read the full details can view or download the report to the executive as a PDF here: Trading Standards Enforcement Policy.
North Yorkshire Council's executive member for managing our environment, Councillor Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said:
"Our trading standards team play a vital role in protecting residents, supporting honest businesses and helping to ensure our communities remain safe places to live, work and shop.
This proposed updated policy provides a clear and transparent framework for enforcement, ensuring we can respond effectively to emerging challenges while taking a fair and proportionate approach.
By targeting those who deliberately flout the law and protecting consumers from harm, we are helping to create a level playing field for responsible businesses and safeguarding some of the most vulnerable members of our communities."
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