As of the weekend beginning on the 20th May, new European legislation controlling the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products are set to take effect.

Part of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the new rules are intended to bring a greater level of standardisation and quality control to the vaping market, to help people make informed decisions about using e-cigarettes and their accessories. If you already use e-cigarettes, or you’re thinking of switching to them to help quit smoking, here’s all you need to know about the new regulations:

The Laws

The new legislation means that all e-cigarettes and e-liquids must pass a registration process with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can go on sale.

E-liquid refill bottles can only contain a maximum of 10ml of e-liquid.

Refillable tanks will only be able to contain up to 2ml of e-liquid.

Nicotine strength in e-liquids will be controlled, and the maximum strength with be 20mg/mL, unless the product is registered as a medicine.

All packaging of e-cigarettes and e-liquids, will have to be both tamper-resistant and childproof.

Looking Ahead

On the whole, these changes have been welcomed by those across the e-cigarette industry, and this video from e-cigarette retailer Vape Club provides further valuable insight. The big question now though is how these new laws will affect those looking to give up smoking for good. It’s a habit that’s all too easy to pick up when at university, and e-cigs have been a really crucial tool at helping students transition away from the habit all together given time.

With the maximum strength of nicotine being reduced, there is a chance that those who currently vape as a means of putting cigarettes down may start to struggle with their cravings if they were already finding the change in lifestyle tricky. Should they not receive as potent a ‘hit’ of nicotine as before these laws, then they may find themselves slipping back into their old tendencies.

Yet whilst this is of course somewhat of a concern short-term, the good done by the new legislation definitely outweighs the bad. The steps taken to ensure user safety and a top-notch product cannot be underestimated, especially in a market that’s expanding so quickly.

This also prevents manufacturers from targeting students with cheap and poorly made knock-offs, which is of course great news for a demographic that’s all too often strapped for cash! Whilst the rules will take some getting used to, vaping is very definitely here to stay, and will continue grow in popularity, across all ages and social groups.