More Than 10,000 Illegal Vaping Devices and Cigarettes Seized in Peterborough

The trading standards department in Peterborough has seized over 10,000 illegal vaping devices and cigarettes this year.

According to the quarterly report from the Peterborough City Council (PCC) (October to December), 2,401 vaping devices and 9,807 packets of cigarettes were seized from stores.

The report also noted that over 12.5 kilograms of hand-rolled tobacco were seized.
Although these products are legal in England, they must meet certain sales requirements: for example, vaping devices cannot contain more than 2% nicotine or certain ingredients, such as the flavoring additive diacetyl, which is associated with negative health impacts.

The government is also considering a complete ban on disposable vaping devices for health and environmental reasons, but such regulations have not yet been implemented.

PCC provides information on its website for identifying and reporting illegal tobacco, which may be counterfeit or smuggled into the UK.
The report states that obvious signs of illegal tobacco include non-standard packaging, unusual flavors, and prices below market value, while health information may not be in English or not printed on a white background.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), about 14% of adults in Peterborough are smokers, similar to the proportion in Cambridge.

However, in the Fenland area, the proportion of smokers is much higher: nearly 28% of the population smokes, the highest rate in England.