Retailers refuse to stock nicotine-free disposable vapes due to legal confusion

Local shops are refusing to stock legal nicotine-free disposable vaping products due to confusion over their legal status.

Stores told Better Retailing they were shunning 3,500 puff nicotine-free vaping devices with tank capacities above 2ml. However, while disposable vaping products containing nicotine are limited to 2ml tank capacity by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR), vaping industry association UKVIA confirmed to Better Retailing nicotine-free lines are exempt from the restriction.

The disposable vape boom in 2021 saw cash and carries and stores raided for selling non-compliant lines, causing a crackdown by shops. EPoS data from July obtained by Better Retailing shows for the first time there are no illegal lines in the top 10 most-sold disposable vapes in local stores.