As of May 20th 2016, the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) comes into force across the whole of the European Union. The TPD has been a hot topic for some time amongst the vaping and e-cigarette community, with both manufacturers and consumers likely to be effected by the changes.
The TPD hopes to input a set of laws for e-cigarettes, e-liquids and vaping devices that will be applied to all products that are imported to or manufactured in the EU to ensure a minimum standard of quality and help regulate product safety. Each country will still be able to set their own rules on certain subjects, such as age restrictions and advertising limits, but the TPD laws will apply overall.
But what do the upcoming amendments actually mean?
Safety
Ingredients including flavouring must not be harmful; the recent ‘Popcorn Lung’ crisis relating to the Diacetyl flavouring chemical is an example of how the TPD will help improve product safety.
Ingredients must comply with stricter rules on purity.
E-liquids will not be able contain over 20mg per ml. This will emulate a dosage similar to that of an ordinary cigarette. It is hopes that this will prevent users from unknowingly consuming a higher dose of nicotine than they had intended.
E-liquid refills will be set at a maximum of 10ml per bottle. To comply with this, multiVAPE packaging will be changing.
Packaging
All packaging must be child-proof, and carry a ‘keep out of reach of children’ warning.
Ingredients must be clearly stated, alongside information on toxicity, side effects and addictiveness.
Packaging must carry a statutory health warning, and warnings for risk groups.
Quality
Before any new product hits the market, the manufacturer must submit information to the TPD including details about the manufacturer themselves, ingredients used, emissions, nicotine delivery and details on production. If the TPD doesn’t think the product complies, they will insist they the issue is fixed immediately, at which point the manufacturer must say what was changed, and prove the issue no longer exists, or the product will be withdrawn and recalled.
This means it will become much more expensive and greatly extend the time it takes to bring a new product to the market, which will impact directly on the consumer.
In addition to this, as of May 20th 2017, all existing products must also comply with these regulations, with the likely result being the market is expected to consolidate significantly with far fewer products available.
multiVAPE e-liquids are created and formulated with both this strict criteria and our consumer’s safety and enjoyment in mind. All multiCIG and multiVAPE products are manufactured exclusively in the UK, using pharmaceutical grade ingredients to ensure they maintain the highest quality and standards.
