A thousand illegal vapes have been seized in a crackdown across the borough.

The Royal Borough’s Trading Standards team carried out checks at 27 businesses in Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor, seizing 1,011 illegal vapes.

A third of businesses, nine of the 27, were found to be in possession of vapes which did not meet trading regulations. These have now been possessed for destruction over the past six months.

In the UK, current regulations specify that disposable electronic cigarettes with a single-use cartridge should have tanks not exceeding 2ml in capacity, and the maximum strength of nicotine should not exceed 20mg/ml. This equates to about 600 puffs, and this figure should be displayed on the packaging.

The seized devices are almost 12 times the legal limit, providing between 3,500 and 7,000 puffs.

In most cases, the shopkeepers were unaware of the law and that they were stocking and selling illegal products. They were given a warning by Trading Standards officers who also provided advice on the regulations that vaping devices must adhere to in the UK.

Council leader and cabinet member for public protection, Councillor Simon Werner said: “This successful operation demonstrates the council’s commitment to protecting its residents by cracking down on the sale of illegal products. While vapes may be a useful aid in helping smokers quit, they must comply with the regulations.

“This work also helps protect law-abiding businesses from the sale of illegal goods, which can create an unfair trading environment for the vast majority of businesses who always follow the rules and buy and sell legal products."

Only those aged 18 and over can buy vapes or e-cigarettes, and the team have also been carrying out test purchasing of vapes to those aged under 18 at shops in the borough.

The most recent operation, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, resulted in nine shops being tested and police cadets were able to purchase four vapes from three shops. Investigations are ongoing.

If you suspect a retailer is selling illegal vapes you can let the trading standards team know via email at Trading.Standards@RBWM.gov.uk