The Association of Convenience Stores is calling on the government to take urgent action to provide trading standards with adequate resources to tackle the trade of illegal vaping products in the UK.
A new survey has highlighted concerns from trading standards about the sale of illegal vapes and the sale of any vaping products to under-18s in the UK. Research conducted in 2022 by ACS of enforcement officers in trading standards across the UK shows that 61% don’t believe they have the resources to tackle the illicit tobacco market.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The vaping category has grown significantly in recent years and sadly this also means that there has been a huge increase in the number of illicit vaping products that have been on sale in the UK.
“The government needs to act now to provide trading standards with the resources needed to tackle the illicit vape market which is damaging to legitimate retailers and poses a real risk to the health of the individuals purchasing these products.”
ACS has developed comprehensive guidance that includes everything that retailers need to know to recognise legitimate products, as well as the age verification policies that should be in place to ensure that products are only sold to those who are legally allowed to purchase them. The full guidance is available here.
