Disposable e-cigarettes: a trend for the bin?
Disposable e-cigarettes, also known as disposables, are on everyone's lips at the moment. Is the hype justified or is the trend just for the bin? You can find out what retailers and consumers need to be aware of now in our blog post.
Ireland is being overrun with single-use products. You can buy the so-called disposables on every corner. We explain what this trend is, what problems it causes and what aspects interested buyers and sellers of disposable e-cigarettes should pay attention to.
What is a disposable e-cigarette?
A disposable or e-shisha is a disposable e-cigarette with a pre-charged battery (or battery) and pre-filled with e-liquid. After a single use, the system is completely disposed of.
Where do disposable e-cigarettes come from?
Most disposables come from Asia, mostly from China. They are currently heavily promoted on social media like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can buy these products in online shops or sometimes in shisha shops, at kiosks or at gas stations.
What do disposables promise?
Disposables often promise great taste, cheap vaping pleasure and an extremely large number of hits. In short: a lot of fun and taste for (at first glance) little money. But most single-use e-cigarettes fall short of all of these promises.
Who can buy disposable e-cigarettes?
A disposable e-cigarette may only be given to adults. Selling or passing it on to children and young people is strictly prohibited!
What are the problems with disposables?
The problems that arise from and with these disposable e-cigarettes are manifold:
- A large proportion of disposables are imported illegally.
- The protection of minors is disregarded.
- The advertising ban is ignored.
- The ingredients are not controlled.
- The product identification is incorrect or not available.
- Counterfeit products are flooding the market.
- The information is often simply cheated.
- Environmental protection is trampled on.
(See examples of violations here)
What are the requirements for disposable e-cigarettes in Ireland?
In Ireland all tobacco products (including all e-cigarettes) are subject to the Tobacco Products Act and the Tobacco Legislation - HSE. They must have a valid CE mark, be clearly labeled in accordance with the law and comply with the Electronic Equipment Act. Furthermore, they are subject to the law on protection against hazardous substances or the CLP regulation and of course the youth protection regulations. If just one point is not fulfilled here, the product is not marketable and there are severe penalties.
As a consumer, how do I recognize a secure disposable?
- Only buy from Irish e-cigarette retailers after proper advice!
- Is the label not available or not in English? Hands off!
- Do not buy on foreign sites!
- If an extremely large number of moves (puffs) are advertised, the device is usually fraudulent or illegal.
- Check with the seller or manufacturer if you have concerns!
As a retailer, how do I recognize a legal disposable e-cigarette?
Since a retailer for e-cigarettes has a duty of care for the purchased goods and fears severe penalties in the event of violations, it is advisable to take a very close look at the goods you are offering. Here, ignorance does not protect against punishment!
Here are some easy-to-recognize points that a disposable e-cigarette or e-shisha must always meet [of course, this does not replace a (legal) examination]:
- Filling volume maximum 2 ml.
- Nicotine content maximum 20 mg/ml (or 2%).
- Importer (address in the EU) must be clearly named.
- CLP marking (skull pictogram with minimum size 10mm x 10mm).
- Warning "This product contains nicotine: a substance that is very addictive." on the front and back covers at least 30% of the surface.
- Warning: "Keep out of the reach of children and young people."
- leaflet
- UFI number and safety data sheet.
- All labels must be in English.
These points only serve as a quick assessment of whether a product can be marketed, a more detailed examination is recommended! Traders can contact the for The Food Safety Authority of Ireland directly or the local inspection authorities.
What else needs to be considered when selling disposables?
Other important points are the protection of minors and the ban on advertising. All forms of e-cigarettes and e-liquid are considered tobacco products and are subject to strict youth protection. Submission is only permitted from the age of 18 (regardless of whether online or offline).
In Europe there is a strict ban on advertising e-cigarettes: no advertising is allowed on social media platforms.
According to the , each e-cigarette must have been registered with the European authorities and meet a waiting period of 6 months. In addition, some ingredients may not be used for consumer protection reasons.
What are the consequences of violating disposable e-cigarettes?
Severe penalties are threatened in the event of violations with regard to disposables. Expect an official sales ban with confiscation and destruction of the goods, plus at least a fine. In addition, there is the risk of being warned by the competition, including a cease-and-desist declaration.
Warning: Violations are considered a criminal offense, not an administrative offence!
Is a disposable sustainable or environmentally friendly?
Clearly no! A disposable or e-shisha consists of a battery or rechargeable battery, cables, a sensor, a liquid depot and a metal or plastic case. There is also a lot of packaging, consisting of cardboard and foil. Since these are disposed of after use and recycling is almost impossible, many valuable resources are wasted and the environment is extremely polluted. Since these single-use products are produced and sold in Asia for little money, the environmental and working conditions are unlikely to meet European standards. Protect the environment and use a system that you can refill repeatedly. This will save you money and help fight pollution! (From the third use, our starter sets are cheaper than any disposable e-cigarette and the environment is happy too!)