ELFBAR's LOSTMARY nicotine levels exceeded legal limit

Mar.05.2023
ELFBAR's LOSTMARY nicotine levels exceeded legal limit
ELFBAR's LOSTMARY e-cigarette products exceeded UK legal limits for nicotine content by over 50%.

According to reports from the Daily Mail and Mirror, on the evening of March 4th, ELFBAR's product LOSTMARY was found to contain over 50% more nicotine than the legal limit in the UK. This marks the second time this year that ELFBAR has exceeded the allowable nicotine levels in the UK.


According to a report, further testing on five BM600 dual apple-flavoured electronic cigarettes purchased from Sainsbury's supermarket revealed that they contain an average of 3.6ml of e-liquid. Meanwhile, five identical watermelon ice-flavoured e-cigarettes purchased from Asda were found to contain an average of 3.2ml of e-liquid.


According to a test conducted by the Daily Mail, some BM600 products contain nicotine levels exceeding the maximum permissible limit of 80%. The Daily Mail further explains that the reason for the exceeding nicotine levels is due to the e-cigarette liquid containing 3.6ml (the legal limit being 2ml). However, the Daily Mail did not indicate whether the nicotine concentration exceeded the legal standard of 2%.


UK supermarket chains Sainsbury's and Asda have announced that they will be removing the LOST MARY BM600 product from their shelves after receiving test results.


According to reports, electronic cigarette manufacturers are required to register detailed information about their products (such as nicotine content) with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can be sold in the UK. However, the MHRA does not conduct any testing on electronic cigarettes during the product registration process.


The MHRA will only take action upon receiving a product violation alert, such as exceeding regulatory limits on nicotine content.


Professor Andrew Bush, a pediatric specialist from Imperial College London, expressed shock and concern over the findings, stating, "This is absolutely shocking. If the media is needed to expose such significant misconduct, then what is the role of our regulatory systems?" in an interview with The Daily Mail.


Andrew Bush stated, "There is an urgent need for compliance checks to be conducted when manufacturers register e-cigarettes, with further spot checks conducted after e-cigarettes are released to ensure companies are following the law.


Chris Allen, CEO of the Brouton Laboratory conducting the tests, has called for regulatory authorities to swiftly address the issue. He has urged them to take strong actions such as removing the products that exceed the limits, conducting product testing, and disposing of non-compliant products.


The Daily Mail reported that they reached out to ELFBAR for comments on LOST MARY product testing but did not receive a response.


2FIRSTS will continue to monitor the situation and conduct interviews with ELFBAR, MHRA, and other related organizations. Stay tuned for updates.


Related Reading: "ELFBAR 600 Product Removal" Special Topic Summary


Reference:


Supermarkets have removed a specific type of vape device from their stores following discovery that it contained at least 50% more nicotine than is legal.


Two major supermarkets have removed another vaping product from their shelves due to concerns about its safety.



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.

JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS
JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS
Japan Tobacco International is stepping up its heated tobacco push in South Korea with Ploom AURA. Since its official launch in April 2026, the device's limited First Edition and Glacier White version have sold out, while distribution has expanded across Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and airport duty-free channels. The rollout marks JTI's third major attempt to build a stronger heated tobacco position in South Korea, following Ploom TECH in 2019 and Ploom X Advanced in 2024. At the group level, JT plans to invest about ¥800 billion, approximately $5 billion, in reduced-risk products from 2026 through 2028, with heated products and Ploom identified as its primary investment priority.
Aug.14
PMI Global R&D Chief Meets Chinese Tobacco Regulator as China Advances Heated Cigarette Standards
PMI Global R&D Chief Meets Chinese Tobacco Regulator as China Advances Heated Cigarette Standards
Philip Morris International’s global R&D chief Michele Cattoni met Liu Sanjiang, deputy director of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, in Beijing on Aug. 27. The meeting comes as China advances mandatory standards for heated cigarettes and nicotine pouches, laying groundwork for their domestic introduction. Cattoni has held senior roles in PMI’s heated tobacco development, while China’s draft standard covers multiple heating architectures, including systems similar in principle to PMI’s IQOS ILUMA technology.
Aug.27
 $20 Million, a Permanent Injunction and Distributor Controls: Posh Deal Tightens Illinois Vape Compliance
$20 Million, a Permanent Injunction and Distributor Controls: Posh Deal Tightens Illinois Vape Compliance
An Illinois court ordered three companies tied to Posh vapes to pay $20 million and permanently restricted the sale, marketing and distribution in Illinois of products lacking required FDA authorization. The consent order also imposes downstream distributor controls, age-verification measures and social-media marketing limits, creating a new state-level compliance benchmark for disposable vape businesses.
Regulations
Aug.05
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
China’s vape exports to the U.S. reached approximately $1.58 billion in the first half of 2026, remaining broadly stable from a year earlier but still below previous growth momentum. 2Firsts’ analysis of China Customs data shows that the U.S. market has not simply returned to its previous trajectory after the enforcement shock and inventory-driven swings of 2025. Instead, export momentum is shifting across product categories. Vaping devices and atomization hardware increased 15.2% year over year, while 6-methyl nicotine-related and other nicotine substitute products surged 234.7%. Meanwhile, traditional nicotine-containing vaping products continued to face pressure.
Jul.22
PMI Expands Colorado Investment to $1.2 Billion to Boost ZYN Nicotine Pouch Production
PMI Expands Colorado Investment to $1.2 Billion to Boost ZYN Nicotine Pouch Production
Philip Morris International (PMI) is expanding its investment in its Golden, Colorado campus, bringing total investment to approximately $1.2 billion to support its smoke-free products business. The investment will strengthen PMI’s research, production and innovation capabilities in smoke-free products. As one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, PMI has continued advancing its “Smoke-Free Future” strategy through heated tobacco, oral nicotine and other reduced-risk product categories.
PMI
Jul.28
EU Trade Department Faces Scrutiny Over Contacts With Tobacco Industry
EU Trade Department Faces Scrutiny Over Contacts With Tobacco Industry
European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has opened an inquiry into how the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade handles interactions with the tobacco industry. The case follows a complaint from a civil society organisation that alleges regular, unnecessary and non-transparent contacts between DG TRADE and tobacco industry representatives, raising questions over compliance with the EU’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The inquiry remains ongoing, and the Ombudswoman has not reached any finding of maladministration.
Aug.24