Figures from the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) also showed that, this year to the end of June, 1,851 vapes or refills were destroyed because the products were found to be illegal. Prohibition orders are placed on products when they breach the EU (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016. In relation to e-cigarettes, the law includes limits on nicotine concentration, refill container sizes, and requirements for health warnings and information leaflets. The health service also revealed that it has carried out almost 700 test-purchase inspections of shops since the legislation banning the sale of vaping products to under-18s came into effect in late 2023. Of 310 inspections carried out in the first half of this year, 50 were found to be non-compliant.