What You Need To Know About The New Vaping Laws

On Saturday, May 20, the new Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 will be enforced. The Regulations include several laws on the sale of e-liquids as well as e-cigarettes.

If you are a vaper, you will need to inform yourself on the changes that the new rules on vaping will introduce.

The Plymouth Herald spoke to the local Trading Standards in advance of the new law enforcement, they want to ensure that local retailers and manufacturers know about the changes which are about to come into play.

The changes include the following:

• Before e-cigarettes and e-liquids are sold they must first be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare
• Products Regulatory Agency. The maximum size for refillable tanks for e-cigarettes is 2ml capacity.
• Quantities of e-liquids larger than 10ml cannot be sold.
• The nicotine strength in an e-liquid cannot be greater than 20mg/ml unless it has been registered as a medicine.
• E-liquids should carry a packaging which is child-resistant, as well as being tamper evident.
• Caffeine, taurine, colourings and other such additives are banned.
• There are new labeling requirements.

Unlimited fines and imprisonment for up to two years are the possible penalties for people who do not comply with the new changes.

Anyone who is involved in making or selling e-cigarettes and e-liquids, inclusive of people who do so online, for example via auction sites, social media and their own personal websites, are under these laws.
People who brew e-liquids at home and then sell online are the most challenging to reach, hence the Trading Standards is keen for the message to reach such people.

Alex Fry, Trading Standards manager, noted that, while shops tend to be aware of the changes to the law, small online retailers do not tend to have an awareness of these.

eBay proves a good place to sell since there are millions of potential buyers.

Sellers offering e-liquids with a nicotine strength of over 20mg/ml and in bottles of 100ml can still be found online. Once 20 May passes these actions will be illegal, that is unless the product is registered as a medicine.