ELFBAR 600 e-cigarette Nicotine exceeded: UK supermarkets remove products

Feb.17.2023
ELFBAR 600 e-cigarette Nicotine exceeded: UK supermarkets remove products
ELFBAR 600 e-cigarette's nicotine content exceeded limits and caused major retailers to recall and apologize for the incident.

On February 6th, the UK Daily Mail reported that the ELFBAR 600 electronic-cigarette in watermelon flavor contained excessive levels of nicotine. As a result, three major UK supermarket chains removed the product from their shelves and one ELFBAR wholesaler recalled the product. On February 10th, ELFBAR met with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and issued a statement apologizing and promising to recall the non-compliant products. The MHRA had previously stated in a response to 2FIRSTS that ELFBAR had promised to recall the related products until they meet regulatory requirements.


On February 15th, 2FIRSTS editors contacted and interviewed 20 electronic cigarette wholesalers in the UK regarding an incident. Only three of them were willing to be interviewed.


All three wholesalers stated that they have not yet received a recall notice for the ELFBAR 600 product.


A wholesale specialist at a high-end London distributor of e-cigarette products has told 2FIRSTS that "overdosing" of e-liquid is a fairly common problem, not limited to ELFBAR products. The nicotine concentration in ELFBAR products remains at 2% and within acceptable limits, so the overdosing is simply a case of consumers getting slightly more liquid for their money. This can actually benefit the wholesale industry, allowing consumers to purchase more product for the same price.


At the same time, he also stated that the company's ELFBAR 600 product inventory is currently sufficient, and all are compliant products.


According to a report from retail industry publication Betterretailing, ELFBAR has issued an apology letter stating that it is working around the clock with all of its supply chain partners to replace all inventory and ensure that no products containing pods with a 3ml capacity are available in the UK. A new batch with a 2ml capacity is expected to arrive in the next 30 days.


2FIRSTS informed the wholesale commissioner of the news and he responded by saying, "Although the 'excessive standard incident' has not had any impact on us at present, this is still good news. We hope that this incident will force the compliance process for all products.


In addition, two wholesale companies, Deep Vaping UK and Vape Distribution, were also interviewed over the phone. Both companies stated that they have not received any requests to recall their products. The person in charge at Vape Distribution said that exceeding the nicotine limit is illegal and they hope that all the products they receive are compliant.


Furthermore, on the official website for ELFBAR in the UK (elfbar.co.uk), the homepage banner features the ELFBAR600 product and the watermelon flavor is still available for purchase. As of press time, five supermarket chains have removed the related product from their shelves. These five supermarket chains control over 50% of the market share in the UK.


Source: elfbar.co.uk


Have ELFBAR dealerships not received recall notices because the products are in compliance and do not require a recall, or has ELFBAR failed to follow through on their recall commitment? 2FIRSTS will continue to monitor and provide updates on the situation.


Related reading: "Compilation of articles about ELFBAR 600 product removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Nevada Considers Nearly Doubling Tobacco Taxes, With $65 Million in New Revenue Expected From Expanded Nicotine Levies
Nevada Considers Nearly Doubling Tobacco Taxes, With $65 Million in New Revenue Expected From Expanded Nicotine Levies
Health groups in Nevada are urging lawmakers to nearly double the state cigarette tax and extend similar tax changes to other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
Jul.17
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
Germany Seizes 56 Pallets of Illegal Vapes, Probe Estimates €1.8 Million Tax Loss
German authorities have seized dozens of pallets of illegal disposable vapes in a criminal investigation, with the products estimated to have caused at least €1.8 million in tax losses. The case has also raised concerns over cross-border supply chains linked to unauthorized nicotine products entering the European market.
Jul.14
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania reported its 2025/26 illicit tobacco enforcement results on July 14, with authorities seizing about 5.5 million illegal cigarettes, more than 2,500 kilograms of loose tobacco and nearly 30,000 vapes.
Jul.15
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
U.S. vape company Charlie’s Holdings announced plans to pilot its age-gated flavored disposable vape products in hundreds of retail stores during the third quarter of 2026. The company said the products will utilize AI- and blockchain-powered age-verification technology designed to address FDA concerns over youth access and potentially create a new compliance pathway for flavored vape products.
Jun.15
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
CTIHK expects first-half 2026 revenue to fall 25%-30%, mainly due to lower tobacco leaf imports and delayed cigarette shipments to China’s domestic duty-free market. Its 2025 revenue mix—nearly 90% from tobacco leaf-related businesses and less than 1% from new tobacco products—shows continued exposure to traditional supply chains and trade variables.
Jun.18