Wrexham Trading Standards Officers have been working closely with Op CeCe, the Wales Tobacco Disruption Team and Op Blackspear which is focussed on tackling illegal vape supply.
Over the last couple of years Wrexham has seen a huge increase in retailers selling illegal tobacco products and recently illegal vapes. Despite the efforts of Trading Standards Officers in Wrexham trying to engage with retailers to ensure only legal products are sold 1000’s of tobacco products and illegal vapes have been seized. As part of the clampdown on the supply of illegal products some retailers have been served with 3 month closure orders issued by the courts for their failure to follow advice and guidance.
As part of operation Blackspear Wrexham Trading Standards have sent a large quantity of seized illegal tobacco products and illegal vapes for recycling totalling a street value of over £85,000.
ILLEGAL TOBACCO
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Illegal tobacco is typically available at less than half the price of legitimate tobacco. This low price and the ease with which it can be purchased by underage smokers makes it much easier for kids to get hooked and much harder for existing smokers to quit a highly addictive habit. Nearly 6000 people die in Wales every year of a smoking related disease and smoking is the single biggest cause of premature death in the UK and Wales.
Vaping has increased in popularity over the past ten years and is widely recognised as an effective way to quit smoking tobacco. However, more recently there has been an explosion of interest in disposable vapes with people who have never smoked trying them out. It is illegal to sell vape products to under 18s but in spite of this vapes have proved to be popular with young people and many of the products available are child appealing with sweet flavours and brightly coloured packaging. Some illegal products have even used the names of well-known sweets to promote them.
USING VAPES IS NOT RISK FREE
Although deemed less harmful than smoking tobacco, using vapes is not risk free. For that reason the law imposes specific restrictions on disposable vapes with a maximum capacity and a maximum nicotine strength. There are also strict labelling requirements. Illegal vapes of the kind seized were found to breach these restrictions presenting a significant potential threat to the health of people using them.
Lead Member for Public Protection, Councillor Hugh Jones said, “The rapid rise in the use of vapes by people who have never smoked and their use by children is very concerning and it is good to see that UK and Welsh Government are actively considering new legislation to tackle the problem.
“The sale of illegal products in our community is of particular concern and we will not hesitate to use the legal powers we have to protect the health and wellbeing of our young people. “ I welcome the action taken by Trading Standards and I hope that this will focus the minds of the retailers who continue to sell illegal products without any regard to the damage they may be causing to the health of consumers.”
If you want to report illegal tobacco and vape sellers in your area you can do so anonymously by contacting the No Ifs – No Butts campaign on 029 2049 0621 or email at – info@noifs-nobutts.co.uk or via their website on – https://noifs-nobutts.co.uk/
