{"id":58519,"date":"2022-11-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=58519"},"modified":"2022-11-28T12:45:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T12:45:38","slug":"trading-standards-and-police-join-forces-to-tackle-illegal-vape-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/trading-standards-and-police-join-forces-to-tackle-illegal-vape-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Trading Standards and police join forces to tackle illegal vape sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Illegal vapes with a street value of approximately \u00a37400 worth has been seized from a store in Plymouth following an operation by our Trading Standards working alongside police.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart of the South West Trading Standards and Devon and Cornwall Police have visited a number of knife retailers as part of the Police\u2019s Operation Sceptre campaign. Trading Standards were ensuring that traders were following age restrictions on knife sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trading Standards also used the joint working opportunity to follow up on intelligence they had received regarding non-compliant vapes being sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One visit resulted in the successful seizure of 740 \u2018ELUX 3500\u2019 disposable vapes. Vapes are a form of e-cigarette and must follow the requirements of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vape\u2019s tank size was not only five times the legally permitted 2ml maximum, but they were not labelled with the contact details of the producer\u2019s EU representative, nor listed with the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The confiscated vapes, priced at \u00a310 each, were voluntarily surrendered by the store owner and will now be disposed of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a continuation of Operation Spectre, a number of engagement and advice visits were also made to premises across Exeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trading Standards officers reminded store owners of the regulations they must follow and of the consequences selling illegal goods or age restricted items to underage customers could have on their livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cThis is an excellent example of Trading Standards coming together to work efficiently alongside the Police force in Devon. The positive outcome is a testament to their communication and close team working.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Operation is also working proactively to play an important role in educating the local store owners to be strict in following regulations to protect their livelihoods. Underage sales are a criminal offence and any premises found not to be complying with the law could face prosecution in the Courts and a loss of their licence, removing a large source of revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
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\r\n Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Alex Fry, Operations Manager Intelligence and Investigations, Heart of the South West\u2019s Trading Standards Service, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a huge increase in vaping as an alternative to cigarettes over the last few years. Originally for those attempting to give up smoking, the bright colours and sweet flavours are now worryingly attracting younger audiences and so it is essential store owners remain vigilant when selling these products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIllegal vapes, such as those seized during these visits, have an additional public health risk. They often have excessively high levels of nicotine, over the limits set by law and will not have been authorised by MHRA. This makes them highly addictive and potentially harmful to a person\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":58524,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[34,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-business-economy-and-skills"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":58524,"title":"Illegal vapes","alt":"Illegal 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