Understanding the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) 

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) is a European Union law that regulates the sale and marketing of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes. This article will explain what the TPD is, how it affects vapers, and whether it matters if your e-cig is TPD compliant.

What is the TPD? The TPD, or Tobacco Products Directive, is a bill designed to regulate the tobacco industry. However, it also includes specific regulations for electronic cigarettes, which can be found in Article 20 of the TPD. TPD Article 20 is the basis for new vape laws and regulations in the UK.

What does the TPD mean for vapers? The TPD has several key points that are likely to affect vapers. Firstly, the maximum size for e-liquid in a single bottle is now 10ml, which means heavy users will have to refill e-liquid frequently. Secondly, tanks are now limited to a maximum of 2ml of e-liquid, which may frustrate cloud chasers and heavy users who need to refill more often. Thirdly, the limit on nicotine levels is now 2% or 20mg/ml, which may make it harder for new vape users to switch and could affect around 200,000 vapers who prefer higher nicotine levels.

Other TPD requirements include extra packaging with warning labels on e-liquids and the requirement for emissions testing on all e-liquids. Officially, new products must now be notified six months before they can be sold. All e-liquids must have an ECID (European Community Identification Number) and be registered on the MHRA website.

How do I know if my e-liquid or tank is TPD compliant? TPD compliant e-liquid is in a bottle not larger than 10ml, contained in a box, comes with a warning leaflet, has a nozzle that is at least 1 cm long and emits no more than 20 drops a minute, and has an ECID and is registered on the MHRA website. TPD compliant tanks contain a maximum of 2ml e-liquid, have an ECID, and are registered on the MHRA website. They also come with a warning label stating that the product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.

While these are all important factors, it is still possible for someone to copy these requirements without notifying the product to the MHRA or carrying out testing. You can check if your e-liquid or tank is registered with the MHRA by visiting the e-cigarette page on the MHRA website, scrolling down to the Submitted Products heading, and clicking on the link for Submitted Products.

Conclusion The TPD has several key points that are likely to affect vapers, including limits on the size of e-liquid bottles, tanks, and nicotine levels. There are also requirements for extra packaging, emissions testing, and notification periods for new products. It is important to check if your e-liquid or tank is TPD compliant to ensure its safety and legality.