New regulations for vapor products across the UK are set to come into force on Friday. The rules will require warnings for e-cigarettes, limit their nicotine levels to 20 grams and restrict advertising and sponsorship by their makers.
The rules will be enforced under the Tobacco and Regulated Products Regulations 2016 with a one-year transitional period for the sa
le of old stock.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new rules:
The amount of nicotine vapers inhale in each container is set to be reduced in two ways. First, the new maximum size of each refill container will be set at 10ml. There are currently no limitations on the size of refill containers. The changes could result in a price increase for consumers as it will not allow them to buy large amounts in. Secondly, the maximum strength of e-cigarette cartridges will drop to 20mg per milliliter (2 percent) from 24mg
All vapor packaging will also now be required to carry health warnings. The front and back of e-cigarette packaging will contain health warnings much like regular cigarettes.The warnings will state: ‘This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance’. All packaging must be child resistant and tamper-proof, as well.
Under the new laws, e-cigarette and vapor companies will no longer be able to make claims about vaping being beneficial to people’s health. This includes a ban on comparisons between the merits of vaping compared to smoking cigarettes. Celebrities will also not be allowed to endorse e-cigarettes and free samples cannot be given out in promotional campaigns.
Lastly, manufacturers are required to submit information to the government on exactly what their products contain in order to be allowed to sell them.