Herefordshire Council Trading Standards are warning retailers to ensure all disposable e-cigarettes, liquids and vaping devices sold meet UK legal requirements.
In the last three months, Trading Standards Officers have seized over £24,000 worth of illegal disposable e-cigarettes and liquids from shops in Herefordshire.
Vaping devices and e-liquids are highly regulated by the government to control the amount of nicotine available and must be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The legal UK limit on nicotine content in disposable electronic cigarettes is no more than 2% (20mg/ml) and must not exceed 2ml in capacity (around 600 puffs).
The majority of the disposable products seized contained oversized tanks, with the most common type being 1500 and 3500 puff ‘bars’. A 1500 puff bar is the equivalent of smoking approximately 125 cigarettes. Officers also seized a number of disposable vapes offering 12,000 puffs.
Marc Willimont, Head of Public Protection at Herefordshire Council said:“Our trading standards officers have been working on the basis of local and regional intelligence and in conjunction with several other leading councils on this countrywide initiative. We are therefore delighted with these recent seizures, as these products are illegal in the UK for good reason.
“If left unchecked on the market they would have encouraged many young people to become unnecessarily addicted to nicotine, which in these quantities can then easily lead them to turn to tobacco. Smoking tobacco remains one of the greatest public health challenges facing the UK, so it is important that we protect young people from any unnecessary risk.”
Retailers are urged to check their stock and ensure that all products being sold meet UK legal requirements – More information can be found at Gov.uk
To report illegal nicotine inhaling products, or illegal tobacco, please contact Herefordshire Council Trading Standards on 01432 261761.
