Illegal vapes are threatening the UK vape market and the public, which is why it’s important that throughout the supply chain – from manufacturer to consumer – there is an understanding of what separates a legal vape from an illegal one.

Packaging requirements

The consumer should be able to look at packaging and understand what they are purchasing, therefore it is essential that vape product outer packaging states (at a minimum);

• a list of all ingredients contained in the product, set out in descending order by weight.
• an indication of the nicotine content (in mg/ml) of the product and the delivery per dose.
• the batch number.
• a recommendation to keep the product out of reach of children.
• a health warning consisting of the text: “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance”, which should appear on both the front and back surfaces of the unit packet and any container pack, and cover 30% of the area of each of those surfaces.
• relevant pictogram and hazard/warning statements.

Puff count

A puff count more than 600 puffs would be considered suspect. As 600 puffs is considered the higher end puff count for a 2ml tank, any reference to a puff count higher than 600 would indicate a larger-than-legal volume of e-liquid.

Nicotine strength and volume/tank size

The legal limit for nicotine in a vape product is 2%, or 20mg/ml. The limit for volume/tank size is 2ml.

How to check if a vape product is approved for sale

Still unsure if a product is or isn’t legal? The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have a publicly available list of vape products which have been approved for market. 

We can help

Products that do not act in accordance with the above would be considered non-compliant and therefore risk being removed from shelves, as well as receiving a fine of up to £5000.

Manufacturers want to ensure that their consumer knows what they are getting when they look to purchase their product. In this respect, transparency is key from both a legal and moral standpoint. If you’re unsure about your vape product packaging or the regulatory requirements, get in touch – our team will be happy to assist you in ensuring your product is legal.