Warning to retailers as Trading Standards say dangerous vaping products being sold in Highlands
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Retailers across the Highlands are being warned to ensure they are keeping within the law if they are selling vapes.
Highland Council's Trading Standards says that all Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs), more commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes, must be bought from reputable UK suppliers and wholesalers.
The vapes should also have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before selling them to consumers. Non-approved products have been found to contain dangerous levels of nicotine.
Retailers wishing to sell tobacco and vapes must by law be registered to do so, via www.tobaccoregisterscotland.org
A number of fixed penalty notices have been issued to north retailers selling vapes to people under 18 or failing to operate an age verification policy.
Trading Standards officers have also found a wide range of non-compliant vapes on the marketplace locally, some of which pose a high risk to the health of potential users.
David MacKenzie, Trading Standards manager, said: “The explosion in the sale of vapes recently has brought a variety of challenges for us.
"Unsafe vapes have been found in general supply, while other products lack instructions and warnings which are essential to inform and protect vulnerable groups of consumers, such as those who suffer from diabetes or heart conditions.
"Retailers must not sell non-compliant vapes to the public. And of course shops must not sell any type of vapes to children.”
In the last 12 months, officers from Highland Council Trading Standards have seized well over 3000 illegal vape products from shops in the Highlands.
