Illegal E-Cigarettes Worth £41,000 Seized in North East Lincolnshire

In Grimsby, illegal e-cigarettes worth £41,000 have been seized. Over the past 18 months, trading standards officials have confiscated more than 8,000 illegal e-cigarette products from local businesses, with half a ton sent for recycling.

These products were seized as part of Operation Joseph, a national initiative targeting the illegal e-cigarette market. Under the law, the internal tank capacity of e-cigarettes must not exceed 2ml, and the nicotine levels in e-liquid must not exceed 20mg/ml (or 2%).

Like tobacco products, these items are required to display specific health warnings. Each device and its contained liquid must be registered with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) before being marketed.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, head of the safety and enforcement community department at North East Lincolnshire Council, stated: "People who buy illegal e-cigarettes may not understand the consequences of their actions. The money you hand over ultimately ends up in the pockets of criminals."

"These illegal products are sold cheaply and are labeled to attract children, leading to young people becoming addicted to nicotine. These products do not meet safety standards and are now known to have health impacts on children."

"It is well known that they cause environmental damage, with millions discarded recklessly each year. There have been many instances of illegal devices spontaneously catching fire nationwide, with two reported to the trading standards office in Grimsby in the past 12 months."

"When you purchase these products, you may be putting your health at risk. These products not only evade taxes but have not been tested to ensure they are safe."

He added: "It is important for people to know how to look for markings on the packaging of these devices. Legitimate branded devices are easily identifiable as they must occupy one-third of the front and back of the packaging, displaying the warning 'This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.'"

"It is important to remember that while legitimate disposable e-cigarettes can help smokers quit, potential health issues arising from their use still exist, and they should absolutely not be purchased or used by non-smokers."