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Vaping Products: How To Check Authenticity?
November 1, 2022 Anthony Greenfield

Vaping Products: How To Check Authenticity?

There's nothing worse than finding out you've wasted your hard-earned money on fake products that are inferior or worse dangerous to use.

Whilst normal e-liquid contains a mix of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavours and (usually) nicotine, the mix of fake e-liquids is unknown and may even contain other chemicals. 

Fake e-liquids may also contain higher concentrations of nicotine. Under EU law the highest strength concentration of nicotine that can be legally sold is 2% or 20mg. Fake vape juice (even that found inside disposable vapes) that contains higher concentrations can be potentially dangerous to the user.

It is rare for a person to consume so much nicotine that it becomes toxic, but it can happen and can result in unwanted stimulant effects, such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate, tremors and seizures. 

To sell a tobacco (or vaping) product in Great Britain, companies are required to notify the MHRA about their intention to sell the device. Once it has been checked, the MHRA will list the vape device or e-liquid on their website. The device will be assigned a code known as an ECID.

When buying vaping gear it's always worth checking that you are buying from an established and trustworthy store such as TABlites.

TABlites buy direct from the top manufacturers and their set distributors so we know that every item we stock is genuine, to ensure the products we sell offer the best experience but most importantly safe for you to use.

Fake vaping products do not follow this procedure meaning the contents have not passed standard health and safety checks and increase the likelihood of potential dangers. 

How to spot fake e-liquid, devices and disposable vapes

When buying e-liquids here are some things to consider:

  • How much have you heard about the brand? Has it been pushed on media platforms? Have you read or watched reviews on e-liquid?
  • If any of the above complies there should be a website. If there aren't a few alarm bells should be ringing.
  • Is the price "too good to be true", if you think so it usually is. You may want to stay away from those deals.
  • Is there warning labels and a tamper-proof seal?

When buying devices here are some things to consider:

  • Do you recognise the brand/manufacturer name?
  • Are you buying the device from a trusted retailer such as Tablites?
  • Is the price much lower than on the rest of the market? This is the kind of deal that may be "too good to be true".

Authentic vaping products have many regulatory standards they must pass before they can be sold. This means you can be sure  

"the market for counterfeit vaping products has transformed during the last four years from a relatively small scale, niche, area of criminal activity into a more significant one." 

Below you will find a comprehensive list of links to check the authenticity of your vape products.

There are a lot of fake vape products being sold by different vendors. These products include counterfeit vape kits and disposable vapes.

"The best advice to smokers is that if you smoke, vape instead – but if you don’t smoke don’t vape. Vaping offers a much less harmful option for smokers who want to quit tobacco but we need to ensure that the products for sale comply with the UK regulations."

Trading Standards

Most vape products will feature a sticker/label on the side of the product packaging which contains a unique authenticity code. This security code can then be used to check if the product is authentic directly on the brand's official website.

If you are in any doubt about the authenticity of the product you have bought then the links below can be used to check if your product is genuine.

Vape brands authenticity check site links

 

Tips on how to spot fake disposable vapes

With such a rapid growth of disposable vapes being sold by companies with no experience within the vape industry, we thought it would be useful to have some tips on how to spot a fake or illegal disposable vape pen.

  1. Always buy from reputable vape stores - We know what we are doing and we know our products are the real deal.
  2. Packaging/labels - Vape devices have very strict guidelines that determine what is on the box. All disposable vapes that contain nicotine will have a nicotine warning on the packet. Also, look for clear easy-to-read text, serial numbers and clear expiry dates.
  3. Scratch and check authentication - Most companies now use labels that contain a verification code underneath a scratch-off panel. You can then use this code and the relevant link above to check your device is genuine.
  4. Buy cheap buy twice - Although stores often have deals and competitive pricing if a price looks too good to be true it probably is.
  5. Check the strength - The maximum level of nicotine allowed in e-liquid sold in the UK is 20mg or 2%. Anything stronger than this was not intended for the UK market and has not been tested to the proper standards.
  6. Bigger isn't always better - The max capacity for nicotine-containing devices and tanks in the UK is 2ml. In a disposable vape, this equates to around 600 "puffs". If you see products claiming significantly more than this they could be fake or have been made for sale outside of the UK.

Don’t get caught out by these imitation products; shop reputable, shop responsibly, and shop safely.

Hopefully, this guide will help you with product verification and keep you safe whilst vaping.

If you think you may have bought a fake vape or an illegal device meant for international markets always contact the manufacturer and if you need to take it further get in touch with trading standards.

Filed in: E-Liquid, Online Vape Store, Save Money, Save Money When Vaping, Tablites, Vape
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