Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards Service take action on underage sales of nicotine vapes

The Trading Standards Service at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council are responsible for the enforcement of legislation preventing the sale of age restricted goods to children. 

There is currently considerable concern over young people accessing ‘vaping’ products. As part of a programme of action tackling this issue an underage test purchase operation was undertaken by the Trading Standards Team with purchase attempts undertaken at 6 premises for the sale of a disposable nicotine vape pods. Two of these premises sold to the 16 year old volunteer. 

One of the premises, The Fountain Shop Ltd operating from 14 Lower High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, pleaded guilty to the offence at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court. At a hearing on 6 September 2023, they were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,822.50. 

The second premise who sold an illegal vape to the test purchase volunteer led to a search of the premises where illegal vapes were also discovered and subsequently seized. In total 224 illegal vapes were seized and the shop was subsequently closed down. 

Craig Rushton, Trading Standards Team Leader stated, “We will continue to act against shops that sell nicotine products to underage and also illegal nicotine vapes. Illegal Vapes have been found to contain a range of harmful chemicals and can be extremely dangerous to users.

It is against the law to sell vapes, disposable vapes or e-liquid containing nicotine to anyone under the age of 18. Furthermore, disposable vapes must not contain more than 2ml of liquid which is approximately 600-800 ‘puffs’. 

I encourage the Public to report anyone selling illegal vapes or vapes to children to the Trading Standards Service. All information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Cllr Michelle Symonds Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Public Protection stated “We have seen an increase in more young people experimenting with vapes.  It is not acceptable to sell illegal vapes and to break the law by selling vapes to anyone who is underage.

I applaud the ongoing work that Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards are undertaking and I encourage our communities to report any trader that they believe are selling illegal vapes or vapes to our youths”.

You can report shops that sell illegal vapes or disposable nicotine vape pods, e-cigarettes or e-liquids to those underage online at Report a Trading Standards Issue | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council or by emailing tstandards@merthyr.gov.uk.