Written question WQ89515
- Asked by
- Mabon ap GwynforPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
What is the Welsh Government's current view on the likely legislative implications to the Senedd deriving from the UK Government's smokefree generation and youth vaping action plan?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Welsh Government currently has no plans to introduce a retail register for vaping products in Wales. Whilst the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 enables the introduction of register of retailers of tobacco and nicotine products, it is considered that a more robust system (and one recommended by the recent Khan Review in relation to tobacco retailers) would be the introduction of a licensing scheme as this would enable licensing conditions to be put in place. We are currently considering this and will be discussing it with stakeholders as part of the development of our next tobacco control delivery plan.
In relation to vaping more broadly, Public Health Wales has also convened an Incident Response Group on vaping among children and young people. In addition to gathering evidence and data and investigating possible causes, this group is looking to establish control measures to reduce the risk of ongoing harm to young people from vaping and to develop multi agency actions in Wales. This work is due to conclude shortly and we will consider its recommendations as part of our approach to prevent the use of these products by young people in Wales.