UK Derbyshire Seizes More Than 8,000 Illegal Vaping Products in a Few Months

According to reports today, since June last year, the trading standards team of Derbyshire County Council in the UK has seized over 8,000 illegal vaping products from about 60 local businesses—complaints from the public about traders selling non-compliant products have increased fivefold over the past year.

This issue is reflected nationwide, with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) reporting that the number of non-compliant e-cigarettes sold by retailers is on the rise, overwhelming the team.

According to the latest data emphasized by CTSI, over 138 million disposable e-cigarettes are sold each year, with one-third of these products potentially non-compliant, meaning over 45 million non-compliant products are sold annually.

Derbyshire trading standards officials have redirected resources from other areas of work in an attempt to address the issue in the county and crack down on the illegal trade and sales to minors of such products.

The current regulations require that the tank capacity of e-cigarettes does not exceed 2ml; nicotine concentration does not exceed 20mg/ml; and their labels must display manufacturer details and health warnings. Any e-cigarette exceeding these limits is considered illegal and should not be sold to consumers.

While using non-compliant e-cigarettes does not have clear health risks, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) strongly advises consumers against using them, as the true contents are unknown and may pose health risks.

In addition to following up on complaints about the sale of illegal e-cigarette products, Derbyshire trading standards officials also visit businesses to provide advice and guidance on sales, including warnings against selling e-cigarette products to minors.

Cabinet member for health and community affairs, Councillor Carol Hart, said: "Our trading standards officers are working tirelessly to combat the sale of illegal e-cigarette products, but the sheer volume coming into our county and nationwide makes it a daunting task."

"There are various reasons these products may be illegal, including their strength and content, which means many of them may pose health risks."

"Protecting consumers and legitimate traders is our job, and we are putting as many resources as possible into addressing this issue. Rest assured, the team is doing everything it can, and we urge people to continue reporting any concerns they may have, and we will investigate them."

"While not smoking at all is clearly better for everyone, it is important to remember that legally compliant e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes and can effectively help people quit smoking."