Regulations Tighten on UK E-Cigarette Market

Apr.26.2023
Regulations Tighten on UK E-Cigarette Market
Recent negative news on UK's disposable e-cigarette market. Testing found 73% of e-liquid capacity exceeded standards and products were unregistered.

In recent weeks, there have been numerous negative developments in the disposable e-cigarette market in the United Kingdom. Independent laboratory Inter scientific reported that 73% of tested e-cigarette liquids exceeded capacity standards and that none of the tested products were registered on the MHRA's list. The UK's Minister of Health and Prime Minister spoke out, pledging to enforce regulations on illegal e-cigarettes and to crack down specifically on underage use of e-cigarettes.


On April 26th at 18:00 Beijing time, 2FIRSTS conducted a live video interview with representatives from the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the Independent British Vaping Trade Association (IBVTA), discussing the recent government regulations and changes in the electronic cigarette market in the United Kingdom.


During a one-hour live broadcast, 2FIRSTS discussed compliance standards and manufacturer concerns in the UK electronic cigarette market through a live dialogue.


John, the chairman of UKVIA, has stated that 40% of smokers in the United Kingdom are transitioning to using e-cigarettes. However, recent events may lead the government to consider changing existing regulations in order to ensure greater safety for the public.


When discussing the priorities of UKVIA and IBVTA, John stated that UKVIA is collaborating with the government and actively planning events to facilitate the spread of scientific knowledge.


According to his knowledge, the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to propose a ban on open systems at a conference (COP 10) in November of this year.


John stated that the association is still facing challenges and will continue to compete with the anti-e-cigarette association.


2FIRSTS will bring more live interpretation reports tomorrow. Stay tuned.


Live streaming footage from 2FIRSTS | Image source: 2FIRSTS


Further Reading:


The Financial Times reports that the issue of electronic cigarette liquid exceeding safety standards in the UK has garnered attention from society. The focus is now on the disputed future regulatory model.


The UK Prime Minister guarantees crackdown on e-cigarette sales featuring excessive e-liquid content and condemns e-cigarette advertising targeting underage individuals.


Over 30,000 illegal tobacco products and e-cigarette oil that surpass safety limits were seized in Staffordshire, United Kingdom.


The Guardian reports that 73% of e-cigarette liquids in the UK exceed regulation limits, with eight zero-nicotine products containing nicotine detected in testing.



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.

FIFA Bans Vaping in 2026 World Cup Stadiums, Putting Nicotine Rules in Event Compliance Focus
FIFA Bans Vaping in 2026 World Cup Stadiums, Putting Nicotine Rules in Event Compliance Focus
FIFA’s 2026 World Cup stadium rules prohibit smoking, vaping and the use of any tobacco products or electronic smoking devices inside stadiums, including inner and outer perimeters, while electronic smoking devices, tobacco products, lighters and matches are listed as prohibited items, bringing nicotine-product management, venue compliance and cross-border legal differences into focus at a major global sporting event.
Jul.06
Reuters: Shopify May Ban All Vape Sales This Week Amid Illegal Market Crackdown
Reuters: Shopify May Ban All Vape Sales This Week Amid Illegal Market Crackdown
Reuters reported that Shopify may ban all vape products from its platform as soon as this week, signaling that U.S. enforcement against the illegal vape market is expanding from retailers and importers to e-commerce platforms and payment networks.
MarketBAT
Jun.23 by 2Firsts Perspectives
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
Kumulus Vape, Europe’s first publicly listed vape company, reported a 7.8% year-on-year decline in first-half 2026 revenue. Amid changing conditions in France’s vape market, the company said channel diversification helped offset pressure, with physical store sales increasing 41.5% year on year. Listed on Euronext Access Paris in 2019 and later transferred to Euronext Growth Paris, Kumulus Vape is viewed as a representative company of Europe’s vape sector. Its performance highlights the industry’s shift from rapid expansion toward more operationally focused growth.
Jul.27
Germany Expands Take-Back Rules for Disposable Vapes From July 1
Germany Expands Take-Back Rules for Disposable Vapes From July 1
Germany has expanded take-back obligations for disposable vapes from July 1, 2026, requiring consumers to be able to return used devices at stores that sell such products, including kiosks, petrol stations and vape shops, as e-cigarette regulation extends from sales to waste management and lithium-battery safety.
Market
Jul.06 by 2Firsts Perspectives
UK HMRC Urges Public to Report Suspicious Vape Shops in Crackdown on Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Illicit Tobacco Sales
UK HMRC Urges Public to Report Suspicious Vape Shops in Crackdown on Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Illicit Tobacco Sales
HM Revenue & Customs is urging members of the public to report vape shops, barber shops and other high-street businesses suspected of tax fraud, money laundering or other illegal activity, with informants not required to provide personal details. HMRC plans more than 30,000 interventions in 2026-27 targeting tax fraud, organised crime and illicit activity, including the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco. The push forms part of a broader UK effort to tackle organised crime on high streets, backed by a £30 million government enforcement programme.
Regulations
Aug.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Malaysia Police Seize RM12.7 Million in Illegal Vapes and Cigarettes as Probe Points to Sea Shipments From China
Malaysia Police Seize RM12.7 Million in Illegal Vapes and Cigarettes as Probe Points to Sea Shipments From China
Police in Malaysia’s Selangor state seized illegal vape products and contraband cigarettes worth about RM12.7 million (approximately $3 million) in two enforcement operations. According to New Straits Times and The Star, the vape-related operation uncovered 131,036 boxes of vape products, 4,900 bottles of e-liquid and 25,510 vape devices, valued at about RM9.4 million. Police said preliminary investigations indicated that some illegal vape products entered Malaysia through sea shipments from China before moving through storage and distribution networks.
Aug.10