Highland Retailers Warned to Adhere to E-Cigarette Regulations

Sep.07.2022
Highland Retailers Warned to Adhere to E-Cigarette Regulations
Retailers warned to comply with laws when selling e-cigarettes in Highland, Scotland; unsafe products seized by officials.

Retailers throughout the highlands have been warned to ensure they comply with the law when selling electronic cigarettes.


The Highland Council's trading standards regulations stipulate that all electronic cigarettes must be purchased from reputable UK suppliers and wholesalers.


Before being sold to consumers, electronic cigarettes should obtain approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Unapproved products have been found to contain dangerously high levels of nicotine.


Retailers who have sold e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years of age, or who have not implemented an age verification policy, have received fixed penalty notices.


Trade standard officials have discovered a large number of non-compliant electronic cigarettes in the local market, some of which pose a high health risk to potential users.


David MacKenzie, the trade standards manager, expressed concerns regarding the recent explosive growth in the sales of e-cigarettes. He highlighted the challenges in identifying unsafe e-cigarettes in the general supply chain and the lack of important information and warnings for vulnerable consumer groups, such as those with diabetes or heart disease. It is vital that retailers do not sell non-compliant e-cigarettes to the public and they should not sell any type of e-cigarette to children.


Over the past 12 months, officials from the Highland Council's trading standards have seized over 3,000 illegal e-cigarette products from shops in the Highland area.


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