Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in UK Trading Standards Crackdown

Dec.08.2022
Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in UK Trading Standards Crackdown
Authorities seize over 5,000 illegal e-cigarettes worth £50,000 in a crackdown on non-compliant products, some containing dangerous levels of nicotine.

Officials from the UK Parliament discovered that 19 out of 20 locations they visited were selling "non-compliant" products, resulting in over 5,000 illegal e-cigarettes being seized throughout the area. It is estimated that their retail value would be worth approximately £50,000 (approximately 420,000 RMB).


British police and trade standards officials are cracking down on illegal e-cigarettes as part of efforts to tackle public health issues.


The UK government has implemented regulations for electronic cigarettes to ensure that they meet minimum safety and quality standards. However, many locally obtained e-cigarettes have failed to meet these standards due to containing much higher levels of nicotine than allowed, with some testing up to 10 times the legal limit.


A spokesperson for the Rothesay Council has stated that e-cigarettes are currently the most popular method for quitting smoking in the UK. While e-cigarettes are much less harmful than traditional smoking, young people should not smoke or use e-cigarettes due to the health risks involved.


Cabinet member for adult social care and public health at RMBC, Cllr David Roche, stated that while many people use e-cigarettes as a legitimate way to quit smoking, these specific products could pose a potential risk of becoming more popular among young audiences, leading to more people inhaling more nicotine.


2FIRSTS will continue to provide coverage on this issue, with updates available on the "2FIRSTSAPP". Scan the QR code below to download the app.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Thailand’s health minister rejects vaping as a smoking cessation alternative
Thailand’s health minister rejects vaping as a smoking cessation alternative
Thailand’s Public Health Minister Phatthana Phromphat has reaffirmed that the government does not support cigarettes or e-cigarettes in any form and opposes the use of e-cigarettes as a substitute for smoking cessation.
Dec.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Romania Fines Philip Morris and Distributors Over IQOS Price Fixing
Romania Fines Philip Morris and Distributors Over IQOS Price Fixing
Romania’s Competition Council has found that Philip Morris Trading SRL and two distributors engaged in agreements to fix resale prices and promotional discounts for IQOS heated tobacco products.
Dec.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea will implement amendments to its Tobacco Business Act on April 24, 2026, officially classifying synthetic nicotine liquid e-cigarettes as tobacco. This marks the first revision of the legal definition of tobacco since 1988. Once in effect, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be subject to existing tobacco regulations, including health warnings, advertising restrictions, smoke-free area enforcement, and youth protection measures.
Dec.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Smoking Rate Drops to 17.9%, Vaping Rate Climbs to 9.3% in South Korea
Smoking Rate Drops to 17.9%, Vaping Rate Climbs to 9.3% in South Korea
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released its 2025 Community Health Survey results covering more than 230,000 adults. Traditional cigarette smoking dropped to 17.9%, down 1 percentage point from last year, while e-cigarette use increased to 9.3%, up 0.6 points. Overall tobacco product use stood at 22.1%, a slight decline from 2024 but still 0.5 points higher than 2019.
Dec.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australian Border Force Blocks Massive Vape Shipment Following China Intelligence
Australian Border Force Blocks Massive Vape Shipment Following China Intelligence
Australia has seized more than 600,000 illicit vapes in two months, following coordinated intelligence with overseas partners. The Australian Border Force (ABF) warns that illegal vaping products now form a multibillion-dollar black market dominated by organised crime syndicates.
Nov.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Authorities in Kazakhstan Seize Over 53,000 Illegal Vape Products in Pavlodar
Authorities in Kazakhstan Seize Over 53,000 Illegal Vape Products in Pavlodar
Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency in Pavlodar Region has concluded an investigation into an organised group involved in the illegal sale of vaping products. The group operated through three Telegram-based online shops and used courier delivery services. Authorities seized more than 53,000 items, with a total value exceeding 400 million tenge. The investigation found that students were the primary consumers. Four suspects have been placed in custody and multiple assets have been seized.
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai