Illegal E-Cigarette Sales Case: Shop Owner Fined £4,727

Aug.02.2024

UK Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead report: Company fined £4727 for illegal e-cigarette sales, violating trading standards.

According to a report from Rbwm.Gov on August 1st, a company director and their store were fined a total of £4727 by the court for selling illegal e-cigarettes in a case investigated and prosecuted by the UK Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Trading Standards Authority. The products sold by the store included the e-cigarette brand "LOST MARY".

The incident stemmed from a seizure of 170 e-cigarettes with an estimated retail value of £1,500 at Top Shop & Off Licence on St. Leonard's Road in Windsor by the Royal Borough of Windsor Trading Standards on July 31, 2023. The shop is operated by Baweja & Brother Limited and is owned by 22-year-old Tamanpreet Singh.

On July 19, 2024, Singh pleaded guilty to two charges in the Reading District Court for himself and his company.

These allegations involve product requirements and product labeling. The confiscated e-cigarette products were deemed illegal for containing nicotine e-liquid in quantities exceeding the legal limit. The maximum allowable capacity for disposable e-cigarettes is 2 milliliters, while these e-cigarettes were found to contain 10 milliliters and 14 milliliters respectively. Among the confiscated products was the e-cigarette brand "LOST MARY.

In addition, the health warning labels on these e-cigarettes do not comply with regulations, as they do not meet the required level of visibility.

These allegations are directed against his company and Singh personally, as he bears direct responsibility for these illegal actions, and has received multiple suggestions and warnings from the trade standards bureau.

Singh must pay a total of £984 in fines, £394 in victim surcharges, and £742 in court costs.

Baweja & Brother Limited company has been ordered to pay a total of £1332 in fines, £533 in victim surcharges, and £742 in royal borough fees.

In total, fines and fees amount to a total of £4,727, with the court also ordering the confiscation and destruction of the e-cigarettes.

Home Affairs and Regulation Cabinet member Richard Coe stated that

I want to thank the team at the Trade Standards Bureau for their hard work in successfully completing this lawsuit. It is crucial to protect residents from dangerous or toxic products by cracking down on illegal and unsafe e-cigarette products.

The work of the Bureau of Trade Standards also aims to prevent unfair trading practices and protect businesses that always comply with regulations. This prosecution should serve as a warning to other businesses in the region that they will face consequences if they do not abide by the law.

References:

[1] Royal Borough delivers successful prosecution over illegal vapes

Also Read:

[1] STG Launches Consumer Marketing Campaign for XQS Nicotine Pouches

[2] Record-breaking Seizure of Illegal Tobacco and E-cigarettes in Bournemouth

[3] China's E-cigarette Exports to the UK in June 2024

#Europe #United Kingdom #Disposable e-cigarettes #Regulation

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Co-op Faces Backlash Over Vape Promotion Strategy Post-Cyberattack

The Guardian reports that UK retailer Co-op is ramping up vape promotions to recover sales lost after an April cyberattack. Internal documents cite a £1M weekly sales gap and 100,000 fewer transactions. Staff say the move contradicts Co-op’s “ethical retail” image, as the government prepares to ban vape ads under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Oct.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Thailand's Lopburi province seized about $100,000 worth of e-cigarettes and arrested one suspect

Thai police have seized approximately 3.08 million baht (approximately US$100,000) worth of illegal e-cigarettes, suspected of tax evasion and illegal importation. The police have transferred the suspects and evidence to the Lopburi Provincial Police Station for further processing.

Sep.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Baltimore Moves to Zone Smoke Shops, Set Minimum Distance From Schools

Baltimore’s City Council in Maryland, building on recently enacted restrictions on “small box” dollar-store chains, has proposed a package of regulations for tobacco and vape retailers. The measures would create a standalone land-use category for “smoke shops,” establish distance buffers from schools and parks, limit exterior signage brightness, and schedule an informational hearing.

Oct.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Bloomberg-Backed Campaign Wins as Denver Votes to Ban Flavored Nicotine

Denver voters have upheld the city’s ban on flavored nicotine products—including fruity vapes and menthol cigarettes—with 72% in favor during the Nov. 4 election. The “Yes on 310” campaign, backed by $5 million from Michael Bloomberg, celebrated the result as a major victory for youth health. Opponents, mostly local vape shop owners, warned of economic harm and called the spending imbalance unfair.