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Non-compliant Devices
by 55 North
VAPING:UK VAPING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Call for action against illegal disposable vape resellers
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 e-liquids and cost around £6 each; UK regulations mean they should contain no more than 20mg/ml of nicotine. Yet evidence collected by the UKVIA reveals that some listed as this amount contain higher concentrations of nicotine and some products are being openly sold with 50mg/ml strength. In addition, product packaging is not including warnings about the nicotine content, which is a legal requirement.
The UKVIA is asking that a hard line be taken against “unscrupulous” resellers and retailers, and is in talks with the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Trading Standards to address the problem. John Dunne, Director General at the UKVIA, commented: “Robust enforcement of the current regulations is the only answer and it’s needed now. We can provide support to the regulators and educate the industry on how to distinguish between what’s a 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 at https://www.ukvia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UKVIA-If-in-doubt-check-it-out-information.pdf.
