Unsafe and Big Puffs Vaping Products Flooded in UK. Market

Trading standards in England and Wales say the market is being flooded by unsafe, disposable vapes aimed at children.

The colourful, sweet-flavoured devices are growing in popularity among teens.

Children are at risk from vaping, and more should be done to protect them from illegal and unregulated products containing high levels of nicotine, doctors are warning.

Some teachers say vaping is becoming a problem in secondary schools.

Selling e-cigarettes or vapes to children is illegal in the UK, and every vaping product sold containing nicotine must be registered by the medicines and healthcare products regulator, the MHRA.

But the BBC has been told of a rise in complaints to Trading Standards over illicit vapes and shops selling them to children - increasing from dozens each month last year to hundreds per month in 2022, with thousands of counterfeit and unregulated products being seized.

A recent survey by health charity ASH suggests nearly a third of 16 and 17-year-olds have tried vaping, and 14% are currently vapers. Among 11-17-year-olds, 7% are vaping - up from 4% in 2020.

When Radio 5live joined trading standards officers in Newcastle carrying out spot checks on shops, they found that two out of the 10 stores visited that day sold vaping products illegally to girls aged 15 and 17.

Child health experts want plain packaging introduced and rules tightened so that vapes can only be advertised as an aid to stopping smoking, rather than as a fun and colourful lifestyle product.

"Vaping is far from risk-free and may be addictive," said Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. "We must make efforts to stop children and young people picking up and using these products."

Vapes or e-cigarettes don't contain the harmful tobacco present in normal cigarettes, but they do contain nicotine - the substance which makes people addicted to smoking.

They are growing in popularity as an aid for quitting smoking, along with other nicotine replacement products like patches or gum.

The Department of Health and Social Care in England says that while they're not risk-free, UK-regulated vapes are far less harmful than smoked tobacco. But it continues to strongly discourage non-smokers and children from using them.

UK laws limit how much nicotine and e-liquid is allowed, and health warnings are required on packaging.

However, large numbers of vapes which are not designed for the UK market, are being smuggled into the country.