The local authority taking action on products containing more nicotine than is legally permitted reports Hana Rajabally

Cardboard boxes full of illegal vapes — Boxes of illegal vapes – (Credit – Barnet )

Barnet Council is planning to recycle illegal vapes with an estimated worth of more than £35,000 that have been seized from stores across the borough.

Trading standards officers will send more than 3,500 of the products for recycling because they have more nicotine-containing e-liquid than is legally permitted, making them potentially harmful, particularly to young people.

Council leader Barry Rawlings said: “We are determined to make Barnet a safe place for people to live and work in.

“Illegal vapes are a health risk, and I would like to thank our trading standards team for taking these unsafe products off the shelves.

“We will support local businesses that trade fairly but take swift action against those caught breaking the law.”

The products will be collected using funding supplied by London Trading Standards and the Office of Product Safety and Standards, so that residents of the borough do not have to pay from their own pockets.

Non-compliant vapes are the items most commonly seized by trading standards officers, followed by duty-evaded counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco, as well as skin-lightening products containing banned chemicals.

Those caught selling illegal products may receive a warning for their first offence and will be advised on how to comply with the law, whilst reoffenders face prosecution.

The team has seized 5,151 illicit vapes during the past three months, with the 3,500 set for recycling coming from recently completed investigations.

The seizure of thousands of illicit vapes comes after the UK government’s intended clampdown on smoking and vaping amongst the younger generation.

Back in October 2023, Rishi Sunak’s government announced its intentions to create the first smoke-free generation, launching a public consultation on its proposals to decrease the numbers of young people smoking in the UK.

Amongst these proposals was the suggestion of making it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products, and restricting the flavours and descriptions of vapes so that vape flavours are no longer targeted at children.

The consultation also proposed regulating point of sale displays in retail outlets so that vapes are kept out of sight from children and away from products that appeal to them, such as sweets and regulating vape packaging and product presentation, ensuring that neither the device nor its packaging is targeted to children.

Following the consultation, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced to Parliament on 20th March this year and reached the report stage in the House of Commons before Parliament was dissolved ahead of the general election this year.

In the King’s Speech earlier this month, new prime minister Keir Starmer reintroduced the anti-smoking legislation and confirmed that his government is committed to his predecessor’s goal of creating the first smoke-free generation.

If you have concerns about how a business is operating within the borough, please contact: [email protected]

Alternatively, you can report matters of interest using the London Trading Standards website at: https://www.londontradingstandards.org.uk/report-consumer-crime/

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.