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Illegal e-cigarettes containing over double the legal nicotine content seized
09/09/2021
Vapers warned of the dangers as parents report apparent use by children
Hundreds of illegal disposable e-cigarettes have been found and seized from 13 stores in the Cherwell area.
The disposable e-cigarettes contained a nicotine content level of five per cent. Inhaling products containing more than two per cent nicotine are illegal to sell as they do not comply with UK safety requirements.
Concerned parents have been reporting the apparent use of these disposable devices by children who are not old enough to legally purchase them. There is a concern that other parents may not be able to recognise them as e-cigarettes.
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “This detection work is essential in protecting anyone who vapes from the dangers of illegal e-cigarettes. We understand that vaping can be a useful tool in assisting people to quit smoking. But it is unacceptable that vapers are unknowingly risking their health by using these illegal nicotine-intensive products.”
Councillor Andrew McHugh, Cherwell District Council’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Our community wardens have been working closely with Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team in tracking down and preventing the sale of illegal, disposable e-cigarettes. It’s essential work; protecting anyone who vapes from the dangers of these illegal nicotine-intensive products. For those who vape our message is simple – if the box indicates the nicotine content is over two per cent, don’t buy it.”
Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “There is a requirement on the manufacturers to get disposable e-cigarettes approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency prior to them being offered for sale. There are strict labelling guidelines for these products including, amongst others, providing a UK based point of contact for the company, which was not the case with the seized items.
“We have removed hundreds of illegal, disposable e-cigarettes from stores and are now working with retailers to ensure that any devices they do stock in future are legally compliant. If you want to support the detection work already being done by Cherwell District Council’s community wardens and Trading Standards please contact us.”
Anyone with information about the sale of illegal, disposable e-cigarettes can report to trading standards via the Citizens Advice consumer service, online or by calling 0808 223 1133.
Despite a decline in smoking rates in recent years, smoking remains England’s single greatest cause of preventable illness and avoidable death, resulting in 74,600 deaths attributable to smoking in 2019.
Oxfordshire is aiming to be one of the first counties in England to go smoke-free – meaning fewer than one in twenty adults still smoking – by 2025.
If smokers wish to quit, they can get support from Stopforlife, or by calling 0800 122 3790 or by texting STOPOXFORD to 60777.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam