A Ripon shop and its director have been prosecuted after selling illegal vapes containing nicotine levels far above the legal limit.
Barlick Megatronic Mobiles Ltd, trading as Phonefix, and its director, Humayoun Khan, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 4th September to multiple offences. These included selling a vape containing more than 2 millilitres of nicotine liquid, selling a vape without proper labelling, and possessing hundreds of illegal products for sale.
Trading standards officers from North Yorkshire Council seized 654 illegal vapes during a visit to the shop in February 2024. Despite this, officers later returned in October and were able to purchase another illegal vape.
The vape sold in February contained 10,000 puffs, roughly equal to the nicotine in 50 packets of cigarettes, while the October purchase contained 9,000 puffs, or the equivalent of 45 packets. The 430 vapes seized from the shop ranged between 4,000 and 10,000 puffs each. In the UK, the legal maximum is 2ml of nicotine liquid, equal to around 600 puffs.
As the company had dissolved after the offences, no penalty was imposed on the business. However, Khan was fined £350, ordered to pay costs of £1,871.45 and a £140 court surcharge.
Cllr Richard Foster, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing the environment, said: “The subject of vaping has been in the headlines for some considerable time now and shopkeepers should be aware of the laws surrounding the sale of illegal devices.
“I would ask those who think it is okay to continue to sell them to consider the health implications of selling vapes to minors or those containing huge amounts of nicotine – some of which can be the equivalent of tens of packets of cigarettes in a single device.
“If convicted, they risk receiving a criminal conviction with a significant fine or even imprisonment.”
Cllr Foster added that public reports were vital in tackling the issue. “We get complaints from members of the public, as well as information from schools, the police and other partners about shops selling vapes to under 18s or offering illegal vapes. Based on this intelligence and information, our staff then undertake a programme of test purchasing, inspections and seizures. In order to continue to keep people safe, it is vital that people tell us about shops they suspect are selling to young people or which may have illegal products for sale.”
Concerns about illegal vape sales can be reported through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or via their online form at https://referrals.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/forms/general
