E-cigarette and vape advice for retailers / producers

AI Summary

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides this guidance for e-cigarette and vape retailers and producers under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) 2016. Producers—those manufacturing, importing, or rebranding products—must notify the MHRA through the Submission Portal or EU-CEG before sale. Products are only legal for supply once published on the MHRA’s notified lists, which have been updated for Great Britain and Northern Ireland since January 1, 2021. Key compliance issues and potential violations include exceeding the maximum nicotine concentration of 20mg/ml, exceeding volume limits for refill containers (10ml) and e-cigarette tanks (2ml), and the inclusion of prohibited additives like CBD which suggest health benefits. Additionally, any device with a reservoir exceeding 2ml, such as certain 'squonkers' or those using extender tanks, is considered non-compliant. Retailers are also mandated to enforce age verification policies to prevent sales to those under 18, as required by the 2015 Age of Sale regulations. Required actions for businesses include verifying all inventory against the MHRA's database of notified products, ensuring all packaging meets UK labeling standards, and immediately removing any non-compliant stock. Producers must ensure all new products are correctly submitted and verified before they enter the UK market.