# Advice for consumers

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/acd62875-259f-47b6-bb73-ec0ea20d42df
Type: Guidance
Published: March 23, 2022
Updated: June 18, 2026

> This guidance from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) outlines the procedures for monitoring safety and verifying the legal status of e-cigarette products in the United Kingdom. Central to this regulatory framework is the Yellow Card scheme, which allows consumers and healthcare professionals to report adverse health reactions. These reports are analyzed by a specialized team of scientists and medical professionals to identify potential safety patterns and determine if regulatory intervention is required to safeguard the public. Data regarding these reports is publicly accessible via the e-cigarette Analysis Print, though the MHRA notes that these records represent suspected side effects rather than confirmed causal links. To ensure consumer safety, the MHRA maintains a comprehensive database of products that have been successfully notified for sale in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The guidance stresses that e-cigarettes are only legally compliant for supply once they appear on this official list. Consumers are advised to use the MHRA publication home page to verify brands and product types before purchase. If a consumer identifies or purchases a non-compliant product that cannot be returned to the retailer, the MHRA instructs them to contact their local Trading Standards service. Furthermore, concerns regarding product quality or general safety are shared with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to ensure broad regulatory oversight.

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## Content

Advice for consumers Reporting an adverse reaction via Yellow Card You can report side effects if you feel unwell after using an e-cigarette product and other safety concerns with e-cigarettes or refill containers to MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme. Yellow Card reports submitted to MHRA are added to our vigilance database where reports are looked at by our specialist team of assessors. Reports are assessed for potential patterns of concern by our team of scientists, doctors and pharmacists. If any potential safety concerns are identified, MHRA is able to take regulatory action to safeguard the public. You can see data from Yellow Card reports received relating to suspected side effects to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes on the e-cigarette Analysis Print . It is important to note that inclusion of a report of the Analysis Print does not necessarily mean that the effect was caused by the e-cigarette, just that there was a suspicion it might have been. See the accompanying guidance document explaining how to interpret this data. The e-cigarette Analysis Profile contains data for all spontaneous suspected adverse reactions, or side effects, which have been reported to the MHRA, via the Yellow Card scheme from healthcare professionals and members of the public involving a nicotine-containing e-cigarette. Only adverse reaction reports to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes appear on the Analysis Profile. Reports of other product safety or quality concerns associated with e-cigarettes are shared with local Trading Standards officers and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities as appropriate. Purchasing legally compliant products in Great Britain and Northern Ireland Consumers can check that E-cigarette products have been successfully notified to the MHRA using the MHRA publication home page . Selecting the “ECIG” tile will provide direct access to the GB notified products list, published since 1 January 2021. You will be able to view this information using the following searches: ECID submitter name brand name brand sub type product type A link below the search boxes on this page will provide access to: UK products published up to 31 December 2020 products published for Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021 withdrawn products Products are not compliant for supply until the notification has been published on the relevant list for Great Britain and/or Northern Ireland. Consumers should only purchase nicotine containing E-cigarette products that are included on the MHRA publication pages. If you have purchased non-compliant products and are unable to return them to the retailer, contact your local Trading Standards service.

## Attachments

- [e-cigarette Analysis Print - guidance document](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/623b04ad8fa8f540eb4c132e/E-Cigarette_Analysis_Print_Guidance_Document.pdf)
- [Electronic Cigarette Analysis Profile up to 31.05.2026](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a33c0e80bea238415c9a1ff/Electronic_Cigarette_Analysis_Profile_up_to_31.05.2026.pdf)