VA P I N G
NON-COMPLIANT DEVICES UK VAPING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Call for action against illegal disposable vape resellers
A
Trade body is in talks with the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Trading Standards to address the problem.
“significant amount” of non-compliant vaping products is entering the UK and being sold by convenience shops and on major online marketplaces, new research by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) reveals. The research shows that the problem lies with some distributors who are “flouting UK regulations” to get these products imported into the country and sell them onto traders and retailers, as well as a “lack of proper scrutiny” on major online marketplaces. Disposable vapes are pre-filled with The UKVIA is asking that a hard e-liquids and cost around £6 each; UK regulations mean they should contain line be taken against “unscrupulous” no more than 20mg/ml of nicotine. Yet resellers and retailers, and is in talks evidence colwith the Medicines & lected by the Healthcare Products UKVIA reveals The UKVIA is asking that Regulatory Agency that some listed a hard line be taken against and Trading Standards as this amount “unscrupulous” resellers to address the problem. contain higher and retailers John Dunne, Direcconcentrations tor General at the of nicotine and UKVIA, commented: some products are being openly sold with “Robust enforcement of the current 50mg/ml strength. In addition, prod- regulations is the only answer and it’s uct packaging is not including warnings needed now. We can provide support to about the nicotine content, which is a the regulators and educate the industry legal requirement. on how to distinguish between what’s a
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compliant product or not, and we are in the process of doing this. However, we are not in a position to come down heavy on those breaking the law, that lies with the regulators.” The association has published a free guide in conjunction with leading vaping compliance specialists, Arcus Compliance. The guide provides retailers with information on the current UK regulations that relate to tank/reservoir capacity of devices, nicotine levels and the elements that must be contained on packaging. Download the guide.