Agenda item

Report of Interim Executive Director of Environment.

The Board received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning an update on trading standards in relation to nicotine inhaling products. Following an introduction to the report, the Board noted that Central Government had recently announced plans to ban single use inhaling products, and to make them less appealing to children. The Board also noted that the report had been received at the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, whose Members had raised concerns on the disposal of the products, and the test purchasing of inhaling products. The Board also noted that a paper would be received at a future meeting for the local approach to tobacco control. Inhaling products could support quitting adult smokers, but there needed to be discouragement for non-tobacco smokers from using inhaling products, and stopping the supply of illegal products.

The Board noted that issues and concerns surround inhaling products was a topic which covered many teams across the City Corporation, including health and waste management. Officers would take away points with regards to local campaigns to prevent smoking and safe disposal options. With regards to waste disposal, it would be quicker to report back to the Board with a strategy, but issues such as addiction and illegal products would take more time. However, it was agreed that an update report would be received at a future meeting.

The Board noted that it had been announced that it was aimed that those born from 1^st January 2009 would not be able to purchase tobacco, and it was queried whether this extended to inhaling products. The response was that the legislation focused on tobacco, as the intention was that inhaling products would be available to support those over the age of 18 with addiction issues.

The difference between legal and illegal disposal products was the size of the chamber and the strength of the nicotine. There was a piece of work to identify the origin of illegal products. The penalties for illegal products were unlimited fines and 5 years maximum, but the largest deterrent was seizing stock, which due to the value of the products was a larger penalty.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and its contents noted.