TPD explained | Find out about the changes to UK vaping regulations

What is TPD all about; and why should you care?

Firsty, what do you know about the Tobacco Products Directive? 

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) or European Tobacco Products Directive (EUTPD) (2014/40/EU) is a directive of the European Union which legislates the sale and merchandising of tobacco and tobacco related products across the EU. The TPD aims to ensure a high level of health protection for European citizens. The Directive entered into force on 19th May 2014 and became applicable in the EU Member States on 20th May 2016.

This Directive covers the manufacture, presentation, and sale of all tobacco related products including cigarettes, roll your own tobacco, and electronic cigarettes. In order to address this situation, the European Union and its Member States have taken various tobacco control measures in the form of legislation, recommendations and information campaigns.

In summary, the policies for the Tobacco Products Directive cover; the regulation of tobacco products on the EU market (e.g. packaging, labelling, and ingredients), advertising restrictions for tobacco products, the creation of smoke-free environments, tax measures and activities against illegal trade, and acquiring anti-smoking campaigns.

With specific regard to e-cigarettes, the TPD introduced new rules which ensure:

• minimum standards for safety and quality
• information is provided to consumers of nicotine containing products
• that protections are put into place to prevent children from starting to use the products

So, what are these new rules?

As of May 2017, any nicotine containing product relating to e-cigarettes/vaping must:

Restrict the maximum volumeof e-liquid in a single container to 10ml

Restrict the capacity of tanks to no more than 2ml

Restrict the nicotine strengthof e-liquids to no more than 20mg/ml

Be child resistant and tamper evident

Not contain caffeine, taurine or colourings

Be submitted to the MHRA before they can be sold

Include relevant warnings and information

Between the directive coming into force May 2016, and the cut-off date of May 2017, retailers should have sold any stocks of products that did not comply with TPD. 

As of May 2017, you should not be able to purchase non-compliant products within the EU. For this reason, you may have seen certain brands that you were familiar with disappear from the shelves. If this is the case for you, chances are the manufacturer was not able to comply with the new requirements in time.