Over 5,000 illegal vapes, with an estimated retail value of £50,000 have been seized by officers from Rotherham Trading Standards working in partnership with South Yorkshire Police.
A shocking 19 out of 20 premises visited were found to have non-compliant products on site, with many containing higher concentration of nicotine levels, some up to 10 times the legal limit.
Find out how to spot a fake vape here
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Cllr David Roche, said: “Whilst many people use vaping as legitimate means to stop smoking, there is a potential risk that these particular products could become more desirable to a younger audience, resulting in a higher number of people inhaling larger quantities of nicotine.”
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “The Council have recently seen a rise in illegal products on the market, along with an increase in reports of underage sales. In order to tackle these issues, we will continue to work with local businesses to ensure they are complying with the law. Any retailers who continue to sell illegal products will have them confiscated and face prosecution.”
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) claims that illicit trade could ruin the vape category and is calling for a minimum £10,000 fine per instance for selling illegal products and selling to minors. “We also want to see licensing of vendors,” said director general John Dunne. “Those funds can be used to fund trading standards.”
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