The rise of vaping as an alternative to traditional smoking has been a hot topic of debate. It's commonly believed that vapes are a healthier and safer alternative, but recent studies have uncovered some alarming findings.
According to the Guardian, some high street vapes claiming to be nicotine-free actually contain the same level of addictive substances as full-strength e-cigarettes. This news comes from a data analysis conducted by Inter Scientific, which provides analytical testing of products to check whether they are following regulations.
The analysis found that oversized and overstrength vapes are being sold unlawfully in shops. Laboratory analysis of 52 products bought in England showed that 73% were above the legal e-cigarette tank capacity of 2ml. More than 40% of those tested had been filled with 5ml of liquid or more.
Moreover, the study showed that eight devices purporting to contain no addictive substances did contain some, with many containing almost 20mg/ml of nicotine – the legal limit in the UK. One vape had levels more than 50% higher than the legal limit.
Illicit Vapes Enforcement Squad to Crackdown on Under-18 Vape Sales
The British government recently launched an "illicit vapes enforcement squad" to crackdown on the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s. The number of teenage vapers is on the rise, and there have been concerns that vapes are being targeted at children. According to a survey by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), 7% of 11-17-year-olds surveyed said they used vapes in 2022, compared with 3.3% in 2021.
Despite concerns about teenagers taking up vaping, the government announced plans for 1 million smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes under the new "swap to stop" scheme. The scheme aims to offer e-cigarette starter kits to almost one in five smokers in England as part of the government's smoke-free drive. Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking, and a consultation will be launched on whether to make mandatory the placing of advice on quitting smoking in cigarette packs.
Inter Scientific Working with Trading Standards to Tackle Illicit Vapes
Inter Scientific examined dozens of brands sold in shops in Newcastle, Birmingham, Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Liverpool, and Wales. They found that many were not following the rules. Inter Scientific is working with Trading Standards to tackle the sale of illicit products, which are flooding high street stores. More than 1.4 tonnes of illegal vapes were seized in the last six months of 2022 in the north-east of England alone.
David Lawson, chief executive at Inter Scientific, said that they have seen a large increase in the number of illegal vape products being seized by trading standards and sent for analysis. Though these products don't pose an immediate health risk, they are circumventing UK regulation.
Their product testing showed that some vapes contained much more nicotine than the legal limit. For example, Dr Gorilla King Blackcurrant Grape Slush, which says it is nicotine-free, actually had 19.7mg/ml of stimulant. Vape With a Bang Havana Tobacco's 6% disposable device had the highest nicotine content, 29.35mg/ml, far above what is allowed in law.
Vape Regulations and Manufacturer Responsibilities
Current regulations specify that vape tanks have to have a capacity of no more than 2ml and a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml. Any vapes with contents exceeding these amounts are illegal and should not be sold to the public, regulators say.
Vapes must display the manufacturer's details, a list of ingredients, and relevant health warnings.
None of the e-cigarettes Inter Scientific studied were listed in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. They should be listed so that any harm associated with them can be logged. Data shows that the MHRA received 40 reports of harmful reactions associated with e-cigarettes in 2022, up from 24 the year before.
The British government has allocated £3m in funding to tackle the sale of illegal vapes. It wants to run further test purchases and remove banned products from shops and at borders. The government will also launch a call for evidence to "identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes", according to plans unveiled this week.
John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said that they continue "to be concerned about the vast amount of illegal and non-compliant vapes available for sale and would urge manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to do more to ensure the products they are selling comply with all of the regulations".
The Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that it is illegal to sell vapes to children or vapes that break the clear rules. The government announced a new "illicit vapes enforcement squad" backed by £3 million to take further action. The squad will have the powers to disrupt illicit supply, undertake test purchasing and testing of products, and will share knowledge and intelligence across the country. The spokesperson also said, "We will not tolerate the sale of illegal products and will take necessary actions to remove them from shelves and stop them from crossing our borders."
FAQs
Are vapes less harmful than cigarettes?
While vapes are believed to be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, recent studies have found that some vapes contain the same level of addictive substances as full-strength e-cigarettes.What are the regulations on vape tanks and nicotine strength?
Current regulations specify that vape tanks have to have a capacity of no more than 2ml and a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml. Any vapes with contents exceeding these amounts are illegal and should not be sold to the public.What is the "illicit vapes enforcement squad"?
The British government recently launched an "illicit vapes enforcement squad" to crackdown on the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s and to tackle the sale of illegal vapes. The squad will have the powers to disrupt illicit supply, undertake test purchasing and testing of products, and will share knowledge and intelligence across the country.What are the responsibilities of vape manufacturers?
Vape manufacturers are required to display their details, a list of ingredients, and relevant health warnings on their products. None of the e-cigarettes examined by Inter Scientific were listed in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which should be listed so that any harm associated with them can be logged.What is the British government doing to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes?
The government has allocated £3m in funding to tackle the sale of illegal vapes and will launch a call for evidence to "identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes", according to plans unveiled this week.