Illegal E-cigarettes Seized in UK Shops Exceed 3,000.

Sep.06.2022
Illegal E-cigarettes Seized in UK Shops Exceed 3,000.
Over 3,000 illegal e-cigarettes were confiscated in the UK over the past year, with some containing dangerous levels of nicotine.

The Highland Council in the UK has reported that they have seized "significantly more than" 3,000 types of illegal electronic cigarettes in their stores over the past 12 months.


Officials from Trading Standards have issued several fixed penalty notices of £200 to those who have sold illegal e-cigarettes potentially endangering the health of users. The investigation revealed a variety of such products which pose a high risk to potential users.


According to UK law, the legal safety standard for electronic cigarette pods is 2ml, but illegal ones may have larger capacities. These illegal pods may also contain dangerous levels of nicotine.


David MacKenzie, Trade Standards Manager of the Highland Council, has revealed the challenges faced by authorities in the use of electronic cigarettes. "The recent explosive growth in sales of electronic cigarettes has presented us with various challenges. Unsafe electronic cigarettes have been found in general supply, lacking instructions and warnings, which are vital for informing people with diabetes or heart disease.


The nicotine content in some electronic cigarettes greatly exceeds legal limits. A recent example was discovered in August near Inverness.


A disposable electronic cigarette was sold from an unregistered stall, and the electronic cigarettes seized not only lacked necessary labels, instructions, and warnings, but were also found to contain "extremely high levels" of nicotine.


Retailers may be purchasing disposable electronic cigarettes designed specifically for the US market on the internet. The nicotine levels in these products may be 10 to 12 times higher than the legal level in the UK.


The latest trend in e-cigarette products indicates a huge demand for disposable e-cigarettes. These e-cigarettes are typically sold in various flavors and bright colors, making them particularly attractive to young people and children.


For children, it can also be affordable. In October of last year, an Aberdeen store sold illegal e-cigarettes that were five times the legal limit of nicotine content - each one priced at only 5 pounds.


The Highland Council Trading Standards have issued a warning stating that retailers are prohibited from selling non-compliant e-cigarettes to the public. Additionally, they cannot sell any type of e-cigarette to children.


According to data from the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the number of people in the UK currently using e-cigarettes has reached a record high of 4.3 million.


In April, over 100 illegal electronic cigarettes were discovered in stores in the center of Aberdeen.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is provided solely for industry communication and learning purposes.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is only intended for industry exchange and research.


Due to limitations in translation skills, the translated article may not fully express the original text. Please refer to the original for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign issues and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us to request deletion.



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.

Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Reform Drives Price Increase as JT Raises All Ploom Sticks by ¥40
Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Reform Drives Price Increase as JT Raises All Ploom Sticks by ¥40
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has applied to Japan’s finance minister for approval to revise retail prices of its Ploom heated tobacco sticks following planned changes to the heated tobacco tax system from October 1, 2026. If approved, all 31 Ploom stick products will increase by ¥40. After the adjustment, EVO products will cost ¥620 per 20-stick pack, MEVIUS products ¥590 and CAMEL products ¥570. JT said the price revision is intended to respond to tax changes while maintaining product quality and brand value. The tax reform is expected to narrow the tax gap between combustible cigarettes and heated tobacco products, potentially reshaping pricing strategies in Japan’s heated tobacco market.
Jul.22
New West Virginia Vape Law Begins, With Packaging and Ad Restrictions Ahead
New West Virginia Vape Law Begins, With Packaging and Ad Restrictions Ahead
West Virginia’s Vape Safety Act will take effect Thursday, requiring vapor products sold in vape and smoke shops to carry health warnings, legal-age notices, manufacturer information and ingredient disclosures, while introducing new licensing and enforcement rules.
Jun.10
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs data show U.S. smokeless nicotine product sales rose more than 8% year over year in the 52 weeks ended May 30, making it the only major nicotine category to record growth.
Market
Jun.23
BAT Restructuring to Affect 9,000 Roles as Tobacco Group Pushes Cost Cuts and AI
BAT Restructuring to Affect 9,000 Roles as Tobacco Group Pushes Cost Cuts and AI
British American Tobacco (BAT) plans to cut about 5,500 jobs globally and shift around 3,500 roles to strategic partners by the end of 2026, affecting about 9,000 roles in total, as the company seeks to simplify operations, strengthen technology capabilities and deliver £600 million in annual savings by 2028.
BAT
Jun.29
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
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
Philip Morris International’s second-quarter earnings call offered new detail on its smoke-free strategy. Management said it would increase U.S. investment behind nicotine pouch brand ZYN, keep IQOS focused on volume before stronger pricing, and use SENTIA, DELIA, LEVIA, VEEV and ZYN to manage tax and regulatory pressure across Japan and Europe. Analysts from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS and other firms also pressed PMI on profitability, market share, cigarette resilience and the durability of its global transformation over coming quarters.
Jul.24