Illegal vape warning after thousands seized in Wolverhampton

Trading Standards made seizures at 19 businesses in the city last year

A warning has been issued by Trading Standards officers about the dangers of illicit vapes after a huge rise in the number of seizures in Wolverhampton.

Up to 4,665 were seized in 2023, compared to 1,042 in 2022 and just 18 in 2021, city council figures show.

The rise reflects a national trend amid safety concerns and a ban on disposables vapes announced last month, the council said.

Councillor Craig Collingswood said illicit vapes were a national problem.

"Our Trading Standards team is working hard to protect residents and genuine businesses from the issues caused by the sale of these illicit vapes," he said.

"When such counterfeit products are sold, there is an increased danger to health as they do not follow UK regulations.

There are no safety controls in place about the amount of nicotine, heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals illegal vapes contain

"Traders are buying them very cheaply and selling them on for highly inflated prices, but customers are finding some of the larger counterfeit vapes only work for a short space of time."

Officers are warning that illegal vapes have no safety controls on the amount of nicotine, heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals they contain.

The are easy to hide because they look like highlighter pens and there is no tobacco smell to give them away, the council said.

Last year, Trading Standards made seizures at 19 businesses in the city with action taken against the owners.

"Where the vape seller is also a premises that has a licence to sell alcohol, trading standards have undertaken licence reviews," the council added.

Customers should always look out for "Warning/Danger" labels on products, as well as 30% of the packaging displaying a warning about nicotine, the council said.