Industry Bodies Offer Compliance Advice
Industry trade bodies are offering retailers advice, but some manufacturers still have work to do to avoid attracting attention to their products
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
Industry trade bodies the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) are offering retailers advice on how to be compliant with the forthcoming changes to vape legislation. Unfortunately, this comes against a backdrop where some manufacturers are being lax with product quality and labelling.
The Independent is reporting that recent activity by Trading Standards officers at the Heart of the South West, Salford and Berkshire operations discovered 13% of tested vape claiming to be nicotine-free actually contained nicotine.
Termed Operation Joseph, they found nicotine levels in some devices ranging from 0.06 mg/ml to over 27 mg/ml. The legal limit is 20mg/ml for nicotine-containing vapes.
Moreover, ten of the products contained more than the permitted 2ml of eliquid.
Lord Michael Bichard, the Trading Standards chairman, is quoted as saying: “Nicotine-free vapes can be a useful tool to quit smoking and reduce nicotine dependency, but these findings reveal that people can actually continue to be stuck in a cycle of addiction if sold the highly-addictive substance unknowingly.
“Businesses should be aware vapes falsely claiming to be nicotine free are in circulation and should make sure they are not breaking the law by selling products that are falsely advertised, especially where they are importing goods or acting as the main UK distributor.”
Alex Fry, the operations officer for Heart of the Southwest Trading Standards, is quoted as saying it is important for products to comply with legal requirements.
The Independent British Vape Trade Association addresses this final point with a guest post on its website, Determining Whether a Vape is Compliant with the UK Vape Ban.
IBVTA reminds retailers: “From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes.”
The trade organisation delivers easy to understand compliance advice that should be read by all businesses.
In its latest comment directed at the industry, the UK Vaping Industry Association has been advising on changes with The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
It says: “The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will be removing the ability to submit notifications for disposable vapes through its portal from March 19, 2025.
“This comes ahead of the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes, effective June 1, 2025 – the regulator has also confirmed all disposable notifications will be removed from MHRA publication for supply in GB and Ireland from this date.
“It has been advised that submitters cease any further notifications for disposable vapes as they are unlikely to achieve publication and will NOT be refunded.
“The MHRA encourages those who need support and help to contact TPDnotifications@mhra.gov.uk or visit Single-use vapes ban – GOV.UK for more information.”
Photo Credit:
Author generated image
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
