Tobacco & vape retailer registration: what's required now, and what's coming
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 30 August 2026 · Facts checked against mygov.scot guidance updated 11 June 2026 and the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
If you sell tobacco or nicotine vapour products to the public in Scotland, you must join the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers - it's already a live legal requirement, and trading unregistered can mean a fine of up to £20,000.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there's no equivalent retailer register yet, but the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 has now passed and gives government the power to introduce one across Great Britain.
This guide covers exactly who needs to register in Scotland today, what happens if you don't, and what's genuinely changing versus what's still just a future power in the Act.
This is general information, not legal advice. Registration and licensing requirements can change - for your exact situation, check the official register or contact your local trading standards team directly.
Scotland: who must join the register, right now?
Anyone selling tobacco or nicotine vapour products to the public in Scotland - cigarettes, cigars, rolling tobacco, vapes and e-liquids - must join the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers.
The one exemption is wholesale: if you only sell to other businesses rather than the public, you don't need to join.
The register is run through ePass, the Scottish Government's digital registration platform, and registrants now verify their identity through ScotAccount.
What does registering cost?
We could not confirm a registration fee in the current published mygov.scot guidance - the page describing the register doesn't state one, and we won't guess at a figure we can't source.
Check the exact cost, if any, directly on the official register page before you apply, since fee rules can change without this page being updated the same day.
What happens if you don't register?
Trading standards enforce the register, and mygov.scot's own guidance sets out real, immediate consequences for retailers who don't join.
Figures from mygov.scot, guidance updated 11 June 2026. The free official route on mygov.scot →
✓ Penalty figures verified against mygov.scot guidance updated 11 June 2026, checked 30 August 2026
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: the current position
There is no equivalent retailer registration or licensing scheme live yet in England, Wales or Northern Ireland - Scotland's register is currently the only one of its kind actually in force in the UK.
That doesn't mean there's nothing to comply with: existing age-of-sale and display rules still apply everywhere in the UK, and enforcement action for underage sales or non-compliant products can still happen without a formal retailer register.
If you trade in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, check with your local trading standards team for anything specific to your area, since local authorities can and do run their own local enforcement schemes.
What's changing: the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
The Tobacco and Vapes Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and applies, in different parts, across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It gives government the power to introduce a mandatory GB-wide retailer licensing scheme - a personal licence to sell, display or possess regulated products, and a premises licence for anywhere used to store or supply them for retail sale.
The Act's one confirmed, dated commencement is different and separate: the "smokefree generation" rule making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 takes effect from 1 January 2027.
We'll update this page as soon as the retailer licensing regulations are actually published, rather than speculating on dates or fees before they exist.
What should you do now?
- If you sell in Scotland, register on the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers now if you haven't already - this is a live legal requirement with real penalties.
- If you sell in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, there's no register to join yet - focus on your existing age-verification and display-rule compliance.
- Wherever you trade, keep an eye on the GB-wide licensing regulations as they're published, since they'll eventually apply to all four nations in some form.
- Mark 1 January 2027 in your compliance calendar - the "smokefree generation" age rule takes effect then, regardless of the licensing scheme's progress.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to sell vapes in Scotland?
Yes - the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers covers both tobacco and nicotine vapour products sold to the public in Scotland.
What's the fine for not registering in Scotland?
Up to £20,000, plus a possible on-the-spot £200 fixed penalty, a sales ban of up to 24 months, and seizure of stock, according to mygov.scot's current guidance.
Is there a tobacco retailer register in England?
Not yet - England currently has no equivalent register, though the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 gives government the power to introduce GB-wide retailer licensing in future.
Can I apply for the new GB-wide tobacco/vape retailer licence yet?
No - the Act creates the power to introduce this, but the detailed regulations haven't been made yet, so there's no application process open anywhere in the UK.
When does the "smokefree generation" rule start?
From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 - this is separate from the retailer licensing scheme and has a confirmed date.
Do wholesalers need to join the Scottish register?
No - the register only applies to retailers selling to the public; businesses that only sell wholesale to other businesses are exempt.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Scottish Government, GOV.UK, any local trading standards authority, or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice - for anything specific to your business, contact the official register or your local trading standards team directly.