Six Swindon shops caught in underage sales of e-cigarettes

Six Swidon shops have failed the test purchase carried out by the Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards team to check whether retailers are complying with the law of underage sales of e-cigarette.

The test purchase was recently carried out by Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, with the help of Wiltshire Police and the force’s Police Cadets volunteers on eight shops out of which six were caught selling e-cigarettes to underage children.

Trading Standards officers also found that four out of the six products were not registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – all E-cigarette products in England should be registered in this way.

Additionally, five out of the six products did not comply with the labelling and safety requirements for Nicotine Inhaling Products.

Richard Bell, Swindon Borough Council’s Director of Strategic Development and Growth, Transport, Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “Trading Standards is becoming increasingly concerned about disposable vapes and their popularity amongst school-aged children who should not have access to them.

“Nicotine is highly addictive, and minors should not be exposed to or be experimenting with its use. It is also a criminal offence for the sale of e-cigarette devices to under 18s. It is also a criminal offence to purchase these on behalf of under 18s.”