Retailers advised on identifying illegal e-cigarette products.

Nov.18.2022
Retailers advised on identifying illegal e-cigarette products.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has updated its guidelines for retailers to identify and sell legal e-cigarette products.

As a large number of illegal electronic cigarette products flood the market, it is crucial for retailers to be aware of the giveaway signs of these illicit products.


The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has updated its reliable guidance on selling e-cigarettes, providing retailers with information on how to distinguish genuine products from illegal ones.


The guidelines emphasize some key areas, including:


注意一次性设备包装上标注的口数。若数量超过约 600,其将无法通过检查并不得在英国市场销售。此外,若包装正反面未标示相应警示信息达到 30%,其同样不得在英国市场销售。英国相关法律规定,包装警示只允许使用一句短语:“本产品含有尼古丁,为高度上瘾物质”,不得使用其他措辞。如有违规行为,该产品将不得在英国市场销售。


The new "E-cigarette Sales Responsibility Guidelines" contain all the information retailers need to know to identify legal products, as well as age verification policies that should be implemented to ensure products are only sold to those legally allowed to purchase them.


The guidelines suggest that retailers use the successful Challenge 25 policy to sell e-cigarettes in their stores. While primarily used for alcohol and tobacco sales, ACS encourages retailers to use Challenge 25 for all age-restricted sales as it provides consistency for colleagues and customers.


This guide is a part of the ACS Assured Advice scheme, which has the support of the Surrey and Buckinghamshire trading standards. The Assured Advice means that if you follow the guidelines, law enforcement officials must respect your in-store procedures, regardless of whether you are in England or Wales. This is particularly useful for businesses that have shops in multiple local authority areas where legal interpretations may vary significantly.


James Lowman, CEO of the Association of Convenience Stores, stated in the release of a new guide: "The electronic cigarette category has grown significantly in recent years, but along with this growth, the number of illegal e-cigarettes on the market has also increased dramatically. These products are at best unregulated and at worst, extremely dangerous because they can pose a fire risk due to faulty battery components and cannot be controlled in terms of the ingredients in their e-liquids.


A recent investigation by the Association of Convenience Stores found that nearly two-thirds (61%) of trade standards officials in England and Wales believe they don't have enough funds to tackle the illegal e-cigarette and tobacco markets.


Lowman added, "With our updated e-cigarette guide, retailers now have all the tools they need to identify illegal products and report them to local trading standards enforcement teams. However, this must be accompanied by providing additional resources to law enforcement officials in order to effectively address the issue.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended only for industry exchange and learning.


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


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


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on all domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign-related expressions and positions.


The compilation of information is copyrighted by 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.

FDA Grants MRTP Orders for 20 ZYN Nicotine Pouches
FDA Grants MRTP Orders for 20 ZYN Nicotine Pouches
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued modified risk granted orders to Swedish Match USA for 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products, allowing the already-authorized products to be marketed with a specific claim that using ZYN instead of cigarettes lowers the risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Jul.01
Chinese Disposable Brands OXBAR, LYCO Challenge Vuse and JUUL: Pennsylvania’s Pending List Offers a Glimpse of the Future Legal Vape Market
Chinese Disposable Brands OXBAR, LYCO Challenge Vuse and JUUL: Pennsylvania’s Pending List Offers a Glimpse of the Future Legal Vape Market
Pennsylvania’s June 26 ENDS Pending Certifications list previews the state’s future legal vape market, placing Vuse, JUUL and Logic alongside Chinese-linked disposable brands OXBAR and LYCO. Shaped by PMTA eligibility and state rules, the list shows competition shifting from market share to market access.
Special Report
Jul.06
Korean component maker ITM Semiconductor says Indonesia unit starts e-cigarette device output as related Q1 revenue rises 55.4%
Korean component maker ITM Semiconductor says Indonesia unit starts e-cigarette device output as related Q1 revenue rises 55.4%
South Korea’s KOSDAQ-listed electronics-component maker ITM Semiconductor said its Indonesia subsidiary has begun full-scale mass production of e-cigarette devices, with first-quarter revenue from the business rising 55.4% year on year to 42.1 billion won, Maeil Business Newspaper reported.
Jul.08
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
AIR Invests $20 Million in Greentank, Deepening Capital Ties Across the Vape Supply Chain
AIR Invests $20 Million in Greentank, Deepening Capital Ties Across the Vape Supply Chain
Nasdaq-listed AIR Global has invested $20 million in preferred shares of Canadian vaporization technology company Greentank, deepening a partnership established in 2023. AIR gains a board nomination right, access to new technologies, enhanced commercial terms and long-term supply assurances, while retaining an option to increase its stake. Greentank’s Quantum Chip platform powers Crown Switch and forms part of AIR’s planned U.S. PMTA dossier, linking capital investment more closely with product technology, regulatory evidence and supply-chain control.
Special Report
Jul.29
China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Patent Discloses Nicotine Tooth Patch for Fixed Oral Delivery
China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Patent Discloses Nicotine Tooth Patch for Fixed Oral Delivery
According to Chinese patent records, a “nicotine tooth patch” application filed by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) and Hubei Xinye Tobacco Sheet Development Co., Ltd. was published on May 19, 2026. The filing proposes a nicotine gel patch that adheres to the tooth surface, especially the lingual side, to reduce displacement, foreign-body sensation, and accidental swallowing risks associated with existing oral nicotine products.
Jun.10