AUTUMN 2022 ROUND-UP Smoke screening Disposable vaping products such as Geek Bars, Bang, Super Stix, Elux and Elf Bars have flooded the UK market over the past 12 months. All are illegal to sell to children, but some are also banned from general sale in the UK because of their size, strength or lack of appropriate safety warnings. Thousands of illegal vapes have been seized across the country, some with an e-liquid capacity seven times the legal limit! ROUND-UP Supplying non-compliant products may result in enforcement action, so it is important for retailers to know what to look out for when buying disposable vapes especially as some of the illegal products are being supplied by regular wholesalers. Vaping products must meet with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) 2014 and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The key TPD rules are: n Vapes cannot hold more than 2ml of nicotine-containing e-liquid n E-liquids can only contain a maximum of 20mg (%) of nicotine n E-liquids that contain nicotine can only be sold in bottles with a max volume of 10ml. Vaping products that contain the allowed 20mg (%) of nicotine must also contain no more than 2ml of nicotine-containing e-liquid. If the product is more than 600 puffs, it is unlikely to be legal. Disposable vape bars containing nicotine can only be sold to over-18s, so always ask for ID and adhere to the principle of no ID, no sale. For more advice on complying with the regulations, contact your local Trading Standards or go to the Business Companion website. Credit: Gemma Fisher, Trading Standards officer Business Safety Week The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is running its Business Safety Week from 5-11 September, to help small and medium-sized firms comply with fire safety law and reduce their risk of fire. West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) also has a range of services to support firms in understanding and complying with the law. For more about these WMFS services, see TSBN Summer 2022 edition. For its advice on staying safe this Bonfire Night, read Celebrate safely in this edition. Ian Jones, West Midlands Fire Service Play fair over property The FIFA World Cup 2022 takes place in Qatar in November and December, and businesses will see an opportunity to increase their takings whether through the sale of food and drink, or of clothing and memorabilia associated with the competition. ROUND-UP Be aware, however, that FIFA protects a large variety of its brand assets using trademarks and copyright, and its commercial partners pay a licence fee for their use. Before manufacturing goods bearing any of the logos associated with the World Cup 2022, businesses should familiarise themselves with the laws covering use of logos, and confirm whether they need a licence. It is an offence to manufacture items bearing registered trademarks without having the correct authorisation. Retailers who buy goods bearing any of the logos associated with the World Cup should make sufficient checks to confirm the items are not counterfeit and that they are produced by a business with the appropriate licence. You should: n Only buy goods from conventional sources and official suppliers; avoid buying from anyone you do not know n Always get an itemised and dated receipt showing any VAT paid and the VAT registration number; make sure the sellers details are on any documentation n Be suspicious of prices that are too cheap for branded goods n Contact the manufacturer or Trading Standards for advice if you have any concerns about goods that you are offered or have purchased. Unauthorised use of FIFAs trademarks may result in businesses breaching the Trade Marks Act 1994, the penalty for which is an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment. For advice on complying with IP law, visit the UK governments Intellectual Property Office website. To anonymously report a business selling infringing goods, call 0300 303 2636. Credit: Ian Bell, Trading Standards officer Image: iStock.com / jcamilobernal For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service