In this article, we’ll be navigating the complex regulations surrounding vape products in the UK and outlining the criteria for illegal vapes such as excessive nicotine strength, tank size, and E-Liquid volume.
In the diverse and exciting world of vaping, there exists a wealth of choice in terms of devices, flavours, and styles. However, a key aspect that must never be overlooked is ensuring the legality and safety of the products you’re using.
In the UK, a complex regulatory landscape governs the sale and use of vaping products. Regrettably, some items don’t meet these standards and are classified as illegal vapes in the UK. These non-compliant products pose significant risks to users, as they’re not regulated or evaluated for safety or quality.
Hence, understanding the specific rules and regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe and worthwhile vaping experience.
Illegal Vapes in the UK
In the ever-evolving vaping market, ensuring that all products meet the strict regulations set out by UK law is paramount. Despite the majority of vaping products adhering to these standards, recent developments have shown that some, unfortunately, do not.
You’re far less likely to find an illegal vape being sold at a dedicated brick-and-mortar vape shop or reputable online vape retailer than you are to find illicit vapes in “general retail” shops on the high street, including your local off-licence, phone repair shop, or “American” candy store.
Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are growing in popularity in the UK, primarily due to their simplicity and ease of use. Unlike traditional vapes, which require constant refilling and charging, disposable vapes come pre-filled with E-Liquid and a fully-charged battery, ready for immediate use. Their ease of use makes them an excellent option for those looking for a straightforward vaping experience or for those seeking an effective tool to aid in quitting smoking.
However, there is an alarming number of illegal disposable vapes available for sale in the UK. If you see a 5000 puff disposable vape with a 5% nicotine strength for sale at your local corner shop, for example, you can safely assume that this vape is illegal.
This is because the legal volume limit for nicotine E-Liquids in UK disposable vapes is 2ml. This can generally provide up to 600 puffs per device—so if you see disposable advertising more than this (or more than 2ml of E-Liquid), this is an illegal UK vape. This does not apply to nicotine-free disposable vapes, which do not have a volume limit imposed on them.
Nicotine-containing disposable vapes offering thousands of puffs—such as the Geek Bar Pro or the Elf Bar BC5000—have flooded the UK. These disposables were designed to be sold in countries where there is no legal limit on disposable vapes’ E-Liquid volume, like the US, but have made it to the UK and are now being sold at disreputable retailers. You may find them at your local off-licence.
Another way to tell if your disposable vape is illegal in the UK is if it contains more than 20mg/ml (2%) nicotine, which is the legal nicotine limit in the UK. In other parts of the world, like the US, you can find disposables with strengths up to 5% nicotine—50mg/ml—but this nicotine strength is not legal for sale in the UK.
We highly recommend avoiding any illegal disposable vapes, as they have not been evaluated for safety or quality by the UK’s regulatory agencies. You have no way of knowing what’s in them or if they’re safe to vape.
Tank Sizes
Tank sizes are another key aspect of vaping regulation in the UK. The legal limit for the amount of E-Liquid a vape tank can hold is 2ml. Any products exceeding this limit are considered non-compliant and are therefore illegal.
On some popular vape tanks, you can purchase something called “bubble glass” separately to replace the glass in your tank, which will allow for a larger E-Liquid volume—usually up to 3ml. This is not currently illegal and is considered a workaround for vapers looking for larger tank sizes to use on their vape mods in the UK.
Nicotine Content
Nicotine content plays a vital role in the world of vaping, with a legal limit of 20mg per millilitre of E-Liquid (or, 2% nicotine) imposed by UK regulators. The nicotine strength in E-Liquids must adhere to this specific limit to be approved for sale in the UK.
There are legal workarounds to this for vapers who make their own DIY E-Liquids, but as it stands, you cannot buy any E-Liquids in the UK with more than 20mg/ml of nicotine.
Bottle Sizes
In the UK, there is a legal limit on the bottle size of nicotine-containing E-Liquids. E-Liquids which contain nicotine cannot exceed 10ml, which is why you’ll find that all of the nic salts, 50/50 juices, and nicotine shots we sell on our website are exactly 10ml.
Interestingly, this is why larger shortfill E-Liquids come with no nicotine and a space for you to add your own into the bottle if desired. Because sub-ohm and DTL vapers tend to consume more E-Liquid than MTL or pod vapers do (because of the types of coils required for sub-ohm vaping), 10ml bottles simply weren’t conducive to sub-ohm vaping.
When the regulations on bottle sizes came into effect, the vaping community devised this nifty shortfill workaround: large bottles, usually 60ml or 120ml, “short filled” with E-Liquid containing no nicotine, with space inside the bottle to add a nicotine shot. This ensured that sub-ohm and DTL vapers could purchase larger volumes of E-Liquid without the bottle size limit.
Banned Vape Ingredients
Vape E-Liquids generally comprise propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and nicotine.
There are a number of ingredients which are banned from E-Liquids in the UK, the most famous of which being diacetyl, which has been historically linked to the infamous “popcorn lung” phenomenon. Diacetyl was once used in vapes to create a buttery flavour for dessert vapes but is now illegal to include in UK E-Liquids.
However, it’s important to note that there has never been a single confirmed case of popcorn lung linked to vaping. In addition, deadly cigarettes do contain diacetyl—but, again, there has never been a case of popcorn lung linked to smoking, either.
Some ingredients which are banned in UK E-Liquids, based on UK government guidance, are:
- Respiratory sensitizers
- Vitamins used as food supplements
- Stimulant additives such as caffeine or taurine
- Diacetyl
- Pentane 2,3 dione
- Diethylene glycol
- Ethylene glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Acetaldehyde
- Acrolein
- Metals, including cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, mercury and nickel
- Preservatives liable to release formaldehyde
You are highly unlikely to find any of these ingredients in commercial E-Liquids, but it is still worth knowing that the government has these ingredients outlined for E-Liquid manufacturers to help keep vapers safe.
Vaping Laws in the UK
Understanding the legal landscape for vaping in the UK is critical for ensuring the safety and legality of your vaping experience.
Where is vaping banned in the UK?
While the UK doesn’t enforce a nationwide ban on vaping, the use of vapes is prohibited in certain areas and organisations. These restrictions are usually imposed by the owners of private properties, businesses, or public spaces.
Generally speaking, in places where you’re not allowed to smoke, you’re not allowed to vape.
Legal Limit on Nicotine Strength
The European Union Tobacco Products Directive (EUTPD) sets the legal limit for nicotine content in e-liquids, such as those offered at The Vapeist. This regulation now stands at a maximum limit of 20mg/ml (2%).
Nicotine Warning Label Requirements
UK law requires stringent labelling on all nicotine-containing products. These requirements, set out under the Tobacco & Related Products Regulations (TRPR), dictate that all packaging and products containing nicotine must be child-resistant, tamper-evident, and carry clear health warnings. You’ll also find that all nicotine-containing E-Liquids have a raised triangle symbol on the label for those with vision impairments.
Additionally, these labels should provide accurate information about the ingredients used and the nicotine strength of the product.
Who regulates vapes in the UK?
Several regulatory bodies in the UK are responsible for the oversight and enforcement of vape laws, including TPD, TRPR, and the MHRA. They work collaboratively to ensure that all vaping products on the market comply with established laws, thereby protecting the health of the public, particularly children and young people.
Unfortunately, not all brands adhere to these regulations. Certain disposable manufacturers, for example, have recently come under scrutiny after a Mail investigation found a slew of overfilled disposable vapes in the UK.
Conclusion
The impact of illegal vapes in the UK is substantial, underscoring the vital importance of regulatory compliance. The recent issue with Elf Bar, who has since issued an apology and pledged to alert retailers and review their production process, underscores the gravity of this issue. But of course, it’s not just Elf Bar—Lost Mary and Crystal Bar were found to be overfilled as well, though the UK’s governing bodies found that this overfilling posed no safety risk to consumers.
As a consumer, choosing to buy from reputable retailers like us can provide peace of mind that the products you’re purchasing are not only legal but also safe and of high quality.
As always, we encourage you to take care when choosing what you vape. You should only be buying your vape products from trusted UK vape retailers like ourselves who can ensure the quality and legality of their products.
