UK Trading Standards Seize Over 300,000 Counterfeit Products

Dec.28.2022
UK Trading Standards Seize Over 300,000 Counterfeit Products
Kent Trading Standards seized over 300k counterfeit products, including illegal e-cigarettes with 10x the legal nicotine limit.

According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Kent Trading Standards of the UK's trading standards department seized over 300,000 counterfeit products in December.


James Whiddett, spokesperson for the UK's Trading Standards agency KTS, stated that although much of their work focuses on retail stores, they are now targeting the supply chain. He explained that they are working to prevent the distribution of devices in which the nicotine levels exceed legal limits by up to 10 times.


He stated, "Currently, the legal limit for disposable e-cigarette cartridges is 2 milliliters, which is equivalent to 600 puffs. We have seen products entering the UK with 3,500 puffs and some even with 7,000 puffs. Thus, they are illegal and cannot be provided to anyone.


He continued to state that in the past nine months, there has been a sharp rise in demand for disposable e-cigarettes in the UK.


He said, "These electronic cigarettes don't require users to add their own e-liquid, which makes them both convenient and simple. We're unsure where these illegal e-cigarettes have ended up and our investigation is ongoing.


Gillian Golden, CEO of the UK Independent Electronic Cigarette Trade Association, has stated that non-compliant electronic cigarette products are often associated with illegal sales, typically targeting underage consumers.


Gillian Golden stated that the association will continue to assist in the rigorous investigation of non-compliant transactions of electronic cigarette products.



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.

Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria’s second-quarter results show a U.S. nicotine market splitting across price, product and regulation. Smokeable profit rose 2.4% as Marlboro pricing offset lower volumes, while discount brand Basic gained share among value-conscious smokers. In oral nicotine, on! PLUS expanded distribution but faced intensifying competition from ZYN and Velo. NJOY remained off the market as patent and regulatory hurdles delayed its return. The broader lesson: U.S. growth increasingly depends on price-tier strategy, retail execution, authorisation and enforcement readiness across the industry.
Special Report
Jul.31
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Products Administration have issued a joint notice targeting illegal production and sales of vape products disguised as medical devices. The notice identifies six categories of violations, including obtaining medical licenses through false materials, misusing medical device credentials, expanding production beyond approved scopes, and using medical device-related online platforms to promote or sell vape products. The action is based on China’s tobacco and medical device regulations and aims to strengthen vape oversight and consumer protection.
Aug.04
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01
Australia’s Daily Smoking Rate Falls to Record Low of 5.8% as Nicotine Use Patterns Shift
Australia’s Daily Smoking Rate Falls to Record Low of 5.8% as Nicotine Use Patterns Shift
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey, daily smoking among Australians aged 18 and over fell to a record low of 5.8% in 2025. Health Minister Mark Butler said Australia now has around 500,000 fewer daily smokers than three years ago and credited the government’s vaping reforms as part of broader progress. Among people aged 14 and over, daily smoking declined from 8.3% in 2022-23 to 5.6% in 2025. Daily vaping rates stabilised at 3.6%, while the government also moved to further restrict access to nicotine pouches through unapproved therapeutic import pathways.
Jul.21
IQOS Global Flagship Space to Open in Tokyo Ginza as PMI Expands Consumer Experience Strategy
IQOS Global Flagship Space to Open in Tokyo Ginza as PMI Expands Consumer Experience Strategy
Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) announced that it will open “IQOS Flagship Ginza” in Tokyo on September 4, 2026. The location will become the first global flagship space for PMI’s IQOS brand. PMJ said the venue will target adult smokers aged 20 and above and combine product experiences, community engagement and local cultural elements. The design will incorporate Japanese natural aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship. The launch reflects PMI’s broader strategy of strengthening consumer engagement through experiential retail and brand spaces. The existing IQOS Store Ginza is scheduled to close on August 30, 2026.
Jul.21
UK Vape Tax Countdown: Retailer Vape HQ Estimates 100ml E-liquid Prices Could Rise From £12.99 to £39.39, While Pod Kits Increase Less Than 10%
UK Vape Tax Countdown: Retailer Vape HQ Estimates 100ml E-liquid Prices Could Rise From £12.99 to £39.39, While Pod Kits Increase Less Than 10%
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty (VPD), scheduled to take effect in October 2026, is prompting retailers to assess how different vape categories may be affected. UK retailer Vape HQ has estimated potential price changes under the new volume-based tax system, showing that 100ml shortfill e-liquids could see prices rise from around £12.99 to £39.39, a 203% increase, while 2ml prefilled pod vape kits could rise from £5.99 to £6.52, an increase of about 9%. The estimates highlight how a volume-based tax structure creates uneven cost impacts across product categories.
Aug.19