. • Evidence base-levels for vaping are short-term and not a lot of information is available, compared to tobacco according to SD. • SD provided a historical evidence-based view of tobacco, adding that we are not at the same level of research for vaped yet, either in the UK or at an international level, although there is an emerging evidence base. • SD spoke about the evidence of particulate matter in vapes which can cause serious impact for lungs and other parts of the body, citing research showing formaldehyde in some liquids. 2 • SD spoke about the Scottish Health Survey which indicated the rising use of vaping products by children and young people, them spoke of the rising use of nicotine pouches by children and young people and the marketing of these products to this demographic, without proper legislation to capture such products, including notice toothpicks. • SD highlighted exampled of the tobacco and vaping industry to use loopholes. • The ban on disposable vape products was explained by SD, but again pointed out potential loopholes the industry uses. • There are around 50 countries that ban e-cigarettes according to SD. • SD spoke of the legislation carried forward by the current UK Government, from its predecessor, which has a great deal of cross-party support and is the best deal on the table. • Examples of good sections of the bill are rising age of sale for children born after 2009, with SD citing examples in New Zealand. • SD also spoke about ASH Scotland’s support for packaging measures to warn smokers, but added that industry always finds loopholes and that heated tobacco should be brought into this. • SD then spoke about enforcement, which needs resource and capacity and that the current bill would not make a conditional register in Scotland, but will in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which could leave a challenge under the Internal Markets Act. • SD highlighted other measures that will require further consultation, including marketing measures that Scotland enacted in 2016 but hasn’t enforced. • On smoke-free spaces, SD spoke about where agreement an be made and including vapes, heated-tobacco, etc., adding that there are potential debates to be had on banning smoking on further indoor areas which have a health harm. • SD then detailed where the current legislation is in relation to the UK Parliament and when it is likely to pass, further adding that the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) was introduced in November 2024, but further debate is being considered by different committees of the Scottish Parliament. • SD pointed out that the industry is quieter compared to previous legislation but lobbying and funding third-party voices. • Before finishing, SD added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is vital in producing the research and messaging but under constant attack international, partly from the tobacco lobby and recent changes in the US Government. • There were questions from Garry MacDonald (GM) on rechargeable disposable vapes and the industry circumventing legislation, Joseph Carter (JC) about the impact on lung health and asked about the readiness of the Scottish Government to use these new powers from the UK Bill, Mike Parker (MP) on advertising of chewing/pouch (oral) tobacco causing cancers and other conditions, GB on capturing nicotine pouches under environmental regulations and EH on specialist cigar sellers and how they will be legislated under the new tobacco and vapes bill. • EH thanked SD for her discussion and taking questions, before moving to the next topic.