Millions of illegal vapes seized

The unlawful vapes are a range of dangerous and unhealthy devices that:

• exceed legal nicotine strength limits
• have illegal tank sizes
• have labels that don’t carry warnings, safety guidelines and manufacturer details
• are single-use vapes, which were banned in 2025.

Two thirds of the vapes were confiscated during checks on goods coming into the country at Kent’s Channel ports.

Kent Trading Standards Operations Manager Jim Whiddett said: “We’d always expect seizures at the ports to be bigger than on the high street. That’s because an imported shipment contains hundreds of thousands of vapes while our officers on the high street might find 20 illegal vapes in one shop.

“But both our ports and high street teams have made significant seizures since we set up the joint approach of focusing on Kent high streets and import routes in 2021.”

Supporting legitimate businesses

As well as cracking down on the illegal vape trade, Kent Trading Standards have been working hard with local retailers to ensure they keep up with vape regulations and operate legally.

Changes in the law last June made disposable vapes illegal. To be compliant vapes must have a refillable tank, rechargeable battery and coils that can be replaced.

Jim Whiddett added: “Most shops want to be compliant and sell legal products. Our officers identified the introduction of the single use vape ban regulations in June 2025 as a significant change and worked with retailers to ensure they understood the new requirements.

“We have also been working closely with an industry partner, the Independent British Vape Trade Association who has created Local Vape Action (LVA).

"The LVA is a local partnership bringing retail, industry and partner agencies together to promote responsible retailing of vapes, including tackling under-age sales.”

Currently there are two LVA’s in Kent in Tunbridge Wells and Ashford. A third in the county will be launched in February.

KCC Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, Paul Webb, said: "Illegal vape sales put people's health at risk, undercut shops trying to do the right thing and damage the environment.

"Kent Trading Standards are doing fantastic work keeping across the vape market, supporting legitimate businesses and protecting communities. Residents can also help by reporting concerns."