Scotland Proposes Strict Plain Packaging Rules for Vapes and Tobacco

The Scottish Government, in partnership with the wider UK administration, has initiated a 12-week public consultation targeting the packaging, design, and retail presentation of tobacco, vape, avnd nicotine products. This joint initiative builds upon the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which took effect in April 2026, granting ministers new powers to regulate nicotine marketing following the previous year’s ban on disposable vapes.

Scottish Public Health Minister Maree Todd highlighted that youth vaping rates have risen, with nearly one in five children having tried vaping. Todd noted that bright packaging and prominent store displays are deliberately designed to attract young people, prompting the need for regulatory intervention.

Standardized Packaging and Device Designs

The consultation outlines specific design restrictions to strip these products of their visual appeal:

Vapes and Nicotine Pouches: Packaging must be predominantly plain white with a matte finish. Shiny surfaces, holographic effects, tactile textures, and logos are prohibited. Brand names must appear in a standardized font, size, and color. Furthermore, vape devices themselves will be restricted to matte white, black, or grey.
Tobacco and Heated Tobacco: The existing plain packaging mandate for cigarettes will expand to heated tobacco, herbal smoking products, and rolling papers. These products must use the dark brown Pantone 448C matte packaging. Heated tobacco devices must also adopt this color, losing decorative lighting, logos, and digital promotional displays.
Flavor Naming: E-liquid flavor names must be literal and simple (e.g., “apple” or “strawberry”). Creative marketing names, as well as references to sweets, desserts, or beverages, will be restricted.

Retail Display Restrictions

Under the new proposals, Scotland plans to implement a point-of-sale display ban. Vapes, nicotine products, heated tobacco devices, and herbal smoking products must be stored out of sight in retail shops. Clerks may only show these products to customers upon direct request during a transaction.

Following the 12-week consultation period, the government proposes a transition period of at least 12 months before any new packaging laws take effect, allowing retailers and manufacturers time to comply.

Read more: SNP Pledges to Ban Vape Displays in Scottish Shops if Re-elected

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.