Businesses in Gedling borough selling vaping products are being reminded new rules around e-cigarettes and e-liquids sales come into force on May 20.
Trading Standard officals want retailers selling vaping products to be aware of the new regulations.
Anyone who falls foul of the rules could be jailed for up to two years or face an unlimited fine.
The new rules restrict the products that can be on sale online and on the high street.
Under the new regulations, the changes include:
• all e-cigarettes and e-liquids being registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before they can be sold
• e-cigarette tanks restricted to a capacity of no more than 2ml, refill containers restricted to a maximum capacity of 10ml and strength of e-liquids restricted to no more than 20 mg/ml
• nicotine containing products required to be child resistant and tamper evident
• new labelling and warning requirements, including the health warning ‘this product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance’
• the banning of certain additives such as the stimulants caffeine and taurine or colourings.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team sent letters to shops in the county that sell e-cigarettes and e-liquids outlining the forthcoming changes last year and is shortly sending a reminder letter.
Officers will also be carrying out visits to premises across the county with Trading Standards East Midlands colleagues to ensure they are following the new regulations.
The regulations apply to producers of e-cigarettes, including people who produce e-liquids at home to sell online.
Claudine White, Trading Standards Manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The changes should help to create a level playing field for all sellers and help consumers get a consistent product whilst hopefully removing a lot of potentially unsafe products from the legal market.
“So while shops may be aware of the changes, those who make or sell e-cigarettes or e-liquids online via social media, auction sites or from their own website need to be aware that they apply to them, too.”
Anyone who does not comply could face imprisonment of up to two years and/or an unlimited fine.
Detailed guidance for sellers can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/e-cigarettes-regulations-for-consumer-products
Consumers and healthcare professionals can report safety concerns and side effects with e-cigarettes or refill containers to the MHRA through the Yellow Card reporting system at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
