A Belfast shop owner has pleaded guilty to ‘obstructing council officers’ who were following complaints of dodgy vapes for sale.
At Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday January 7, James Elwood from Titanic Vapour at 264 Shankill Road was fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £73.
The case was taken by Belfast City Council against Mr James Elwood following a visit by council officers to Titanic Vapour in November 2023.
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Acting on complaints and test purchase exercises, council officers suspected that illicit vapes were being sold on the premises, and visited the shop to ascertain whether the vapes on sale were compliant with the relevant legislation.
During their search, suspected illicit vapes were detected but council officers said they were were obstructed by Mr Elwood and unable to complete their investigation.
In March 2024 the shop was given a five week ban from selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, including e-cigarettes/vapes. The application for a Restricted Premises Order was taken by Belfast City Council against Titanic Vapour, upon detection of non-compliance with tobacco control legislation.
Illicit vapes are vaping products that are unsafe or don’t meet the criteria set out by the UK government. They may not meet UK safety standards, for example, by having illegal ingredients, exceeding the maximum tank capacity, or having too much nicotine
They may not meet the UK’s labelling requirements, such as not having the required health warnings or not having the manufacturer’s details. They can cause serious health issues, and are often sold to children.
People looking for illicit vapes should check the number of puffs on the vape. The maximum tank size is 2ml, which is equivalent to 600-650 puffs.
In the UK, the health warning must cover 30 percent of the front and back of the pack, and must say “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.”
The maximum nicotine strength is 20mg (2 percent). Vape packaging must contain the manufacturer or importer name and contact details.