Published: Thursday 25 May 2023
Around 348 illegal vapes have been seized by Kensington and Chelsea Trading standards officers on Portobello Road following intelligence by vigilant city wardens. During the raid, the team found 348 vapes indicating a 2ml tank size with 3,500 puffs far exceeding the legal limit. Legal vapes would usually give 600 to 800 puffs and have a 2ml tank size.
Upon further investigation, Trading officers discovered that the retail shop was selling these Illegal vapes for £12 each making a profit of around £2,700 with a total retail value of approximately £4,000 ripping off honest customers. Appropriate formal action will now be taken by Kensington and Chelsea Council, with trading standards officers working with the business in question to ensure these dangerous products are not sold.
This year the team have seized around 1,100 illegal vapes taking the figure around 4,000 since 2021 and are continuing to educate retailers and spread awareness amongst young people and visitors to the borough.
Cllr Josh Rendall, lead member for local economy and employment, said:
“We are seeing an increase in the sale of Illegal vapes in London with many businesses displaying and selling vapes exceeding the legal limit. Portobello Road is a world-famous shopping destination, attracting tourists who are unaware that they are buying fake vapes. Our officers are protecting young people and visitors to the borough, by making them aware of the risks and cracking down on rogue traders to ensure our amazing spaces in the borough are safe and fair.”
To report any suspected illegal products, please email [email protected].
The reasons for vapes being illegal include:
•Not being approved by the medicines and healthcare products regulator, the MHRA. Retailers have been found to sell vapes from brands that have not been approved despite containing the legal tank size, nicotine level and recommended puffs.
•Oversized tanks carrying over the legal 2ml tank size. A vape pen should provide no more than 600-800 puffs.
• Having too high a nicotine strength. The highest nicotine strength for vapes is 2 per cent. The nicotine liquid should not contain any additives or ingredients such as caffeine or taurine.
• Carrying the wrong health warning. All vape products containing nicotine should have the following health warning 'This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance' covering 30 per cent of the front and back of the packet.