RPC Opinion: Tobacco Packaging Regulations UK Get Green Light

• The UK government has published a consultation on proposals to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
• The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) gave a 'green' rating to the options assessments for four measures in November 2025.
• The RPC's opinion refers only to the quality of the evidence and analysis supporting the case for regulation, not the merits of the policy itself.
• The Department of Health and Social Care has updated the impact assessments for consistency and to reflect current estimates.

This means that we considered them to be 'fit for purpose' based on our scrutiny of the evidence and analysis supporting the case for why regulation is necessary.

The UK government has published a consultation on proposals to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. This move is part of the Department of Health and Social Care's efforts to standardize packaging for these products. The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) was tasked with reviewing the evidence and analysis supporting the case for regulation. In November 2025, the RPC gave a 'green' rating to the options assessments for four measures, indicating that they were deemed 'fit for purpose.' This means that the government considered them suitable for implementation based on the available data.

The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is a key piece of legislation aimed at regulating tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. The act introduces measures to standardize packaging for these products, which will help in reducing the appeal of these products to young people. The government has proposed four measures under this act: restricting the appearance of vapes and heated tobacco products, restricting the display of vaping, nicotine products, and tobacco-related devices and products, and standardizing packaging for vaping products and nicotine products. These measures are designed to reduce the harm caused by these products.

The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) plays a crucial role in reviewing government proposals before they become law. In this case, the RPC reviewed the options assessments for four measures under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. The committee gave a 'green' rating to these assessments, indicating that they were deemed suitable for implementation based on the available data. However, it's worth noting that the RPC's opinion refers only to the quality of the evidence and analysis supporting the case for regulation, not the merits of the policy itself.

Lawyers should watch for the potential impact of these regulations on their clients' businesses, particularly in relation to compliance with the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK