The UK Trading Standards Agency found that some “nicotine-free” vape products contain nicotine, nicotine content is far beyond the standard, and all products exceed the amount of soot.
Key points:
1. The UK’s Trading Standards Agency has found that some e-cigarettes labeled “nicotine-free” actually contain nicotine.
2. Consumers may be trapped in a cycle of addiction without even knowing it.
According to The Sun reported on March 6, consumers in the UK are being warned that some electronic cigarette products that claim to be “nicotine-free” actually contain nicotine components.
Trading Standards teams in the South West, Salford, and Berkshire tested 76 products advertised as nicotine-free vapes for sale and found that more than one in eight (13%) contained nicotine.
According to the National Trading Standards Agency, the nicotine content of these e-liquids ranges from 0.06mg/ml to 27.02mg/ml, which is equivalent to the nicotine content of a pack of 20 cigarettes. In addition, all 10 types of e-cigarettes exceeded the limit of the amount of liquid allowed in vapes, and two of them also exceeded the limit of both the amount of liquid and the nicotine concentration.
Michael Bichard, chairman of the UK’s National Trading Standards agency, said:
- “Nicotine-free vapes can be an effective tool for quitting smoking and reducing nicotine dependence, but these findings suggest that people may remain trapped in a cycle of addiction if they unknowingly purchase this highly addictive substance.”
He called on traders to be more vigilant about the products they sell.
- “Businesses should be aware that vapes falsely claiming to be nicotine-free are in circulation and should ensure they are not breaking the law by selling falsely advertised products, particularly if importing goods or acting as a major distributor in the UK.”
