Combating Illegal E-Cigarettes In The United Kingdom Is Challenging.

Status of the British electronic cigarette market

As a country with a highly accommodating e-cigarette regulation, the size of the UK e-cigarette market will increase in 2022. According to Action on Smoking and Health UK (ASH), the number of e-cigarette smokers in the United Kingdom has reached a record high of 4,3 million. However, illegal e-cigarette goods have attracted substantial attention from authorities, who may target connected businesses for regulation. 

 At a video exchange held on August 19 between the Electronic Cigarette Professional Committee of the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce and the United Kingdom Vaping Industry Association (hereinafter "UKVIA"), John Dunne, director general of UKVIA, described the current state of the UK e-cigarette market and regulation: "The UK e-cigarette black market and grey market are rampant. 

With over 6,500 disposable e-cigarette products now registered with the MHRA (the UK's pharmacovigilance agency), disposable e-cigarettes hold a considerable market share in the United Kingdom. In addition, there is a substantial black market for bigger vaporizers, which places immense pressure on the regulator. The MHRA has adopted a stronger position against non-compliant items and firms that falsify applications, resulting in the denial of clearance for several products or a lengthier approval process. Suspicion of fraud by the MHRA may result in the cancellation of the product's ECID (product identification number) or its deregistration. 

The regulatory pressure has been complemented by the phenomena of fishing in tumultuous waters and exploiting lucrative possibilities. Recently, some independent testing laboratories in the United Kingdom have been using e-cigarettes purchased on the black market for testing purposes. Once they discover a non-compliant product, they use it to blackmail companies or report it to the UK Department of Health for illegal profit motives. 

John Dunne stated, "A UKVIA investigation found that many disposable e-cigarettes currently on the market in the UK do not comply with regulations. Common problems include cartridges exceeding 2mL in volume, nicotine concentrations exceeding the maximum of 20mg/mL, problems with the CLP classification of packaging, or products not registered with the MHRA. UKVIA is taking action to work with the MHRA, Trading Standards, and Enforcement to identify illegal sellers and is continuously monitoring the situation. 

The UK crackdown on unlawful sales of e-cigarettes

Trading standards departments around the United Kingdom are taking action by searching retailers and distributors, seizing illicit goods, and fining stores. Infringing store owners have all been issued £200 fixed penalty letters, and three of the outlets have been completely barred from selling electronic cigarettes. 

Scotland is aggressively coordinating a crackdown on disposable electronic cigarettes that are prohibited. In 10 weeks, 21 municipal governments raided 721 locations and removed more than 88,000 non-compliant disposable e-cigarettes. 

Separately, David MacKenzie, manager of trading standards for the Scottish Highland Electronic Cigarette Council, said that over 3,000 illicit e-cigarettes were collected from their businesses during the last year. Some of these e-cigarettes contained nicotine levels far exceeding the legal limit (the legal standard for e-cigarette cartridge safety in the United Kingdom is up to 2ml), certain stalls selling disposable e-cigarettes were not legally registered, and certain e-cigarettes lacked the required labels, instructions, and warnings. The nicotine concentration of these e-cigarettes maybe ten to twelve times greater than the legal limit in the United Kingdom. 

The most recent trend in electronic cigarette products is disposable electronic cigarettes. These e-cigarettes frequently entice users with a range of flavors and vibrant colors, and they are especially appealing to youngsters and young adults. And they are affordable enough for youngsters to purchase. In an Aberdeen city store that was seized by the authorities in October of last year, illicit e-cigarettes priced under £5 apiece. 

UKVIA hosted a conference and expo for the e-cigarette sector on September 9 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London, with the topic "Cracking down on illicit e-cigarette sellers, restricting access to minors, and developing a viable e-cigarette economy." 

UKVIA stated, "We must make the public aware that the real source of the rampant black market is unethical traders who illegally sell disposable products. We are calling for a variety of tough measures to be taken against illegal traders, including fines of £10,000 and revocation of retail licenses. Concurrently, we are working with the relevant authorities to identify, prosecute, and seize potentially dangerous non-compliant e-cigarette products."