If you've been using a vape machine or e-cigarette in the UK then you'll need to watch out for new rules and regulations.
The changes mainly affect vendors in the way they sell the liquids and machines - which will have a flow on effect to customers.
From May 20 manufacturers must be aware that:
- Before they're sold, all e-cigarettes and e-liquids must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- The maximum capacity for an e-cigarette's refillable tank must be no bigger than 2ml
- E-liquids cannot be sold in quantities greater than 10ml
- Nicotine within E-liquid must not exceed 20mg/ml - unless registered as a medicine
- The packaging of E-liquids must be child-resistant and tamper evident
- Certain additives such as the stimulants caffeine and taurine or colourings are banned
- There are stricter labelling requirements
Anyone caught breaking these new rules could face two years in jail or a hefty fine.
Product seller CigElectric believes the changes of the maximum nicotine strength won't help cigarette smokers kick the habit. It also reckons a reduction of the maximum tank capacity will reduce the range of products.
"Expect a massive shake up of the industry with smaller businesses shutting down, a massive reduction of product offerings and increased costs across the board," it said.
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An undercover investigation found nine out of 10 British vape shops were breaking the industry code of conduct by selling products to non-smokers.
Guidelines within the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) have been set to try to stop non-smokers from becoming addicted to nicotine.
But the investigation has found 87 percent of shops are selling products to people who have never smoked or vaped before.
The latest Public Health England review has found e-cigarettes are 95 percent safer than normal smoking.
The machines don't produce tar or carbon monoxide, instead they heat a solution usually with nicotine, a synthetic liquid and flavouring.
But if you are using the machines then keep in mind, don't blow the vapour out of your nose.
It can really damage your nostrils, as the main chemical in e-cigs - propylene glycol (PG) can suck the moisture out of your nose.
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The Metro spoke to one bloke who had a bit of a nightmare. William Keeler told them that at one point he was 'picking bits of flesh from his nostrils'. Ew.
He also said that he could 'smell poo' constantly. A few months after he stopped blowing it out of his nose, the symptoms desisted.
Make sure your machines aren't dodgy as well, otherwise it could explode in your face.
I'm legitimately not kidding - some machines have been known to blow up without notice.
Take Andrew Hall, he was left in an ICU ward after his went off in his face. Andrew posted a warning to his Facebook friends:
Even Andrew admits this sounds like a hoax, "I would have said 'no way that's possible' until now."
It did a lot of damage. Andrew lost seven teeth, has second degree burns to face and neck and has been pulling chunks of plastic, teeth and foreign objects from his mouth, throat and lips. The room he was in when the vaping kit exploded has also suffered serious damage.
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According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, 80% of explosions happen while charging or an alternative charger not provided by the manufacturer.
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Charlie Pugsley, from the London Fire Brigade, told Info-Electronic-Cigarette:
"People assume e-cigarettes are much safer than ordinary cigarettes, and in most cases they are. The danger is that people sometimes use incorrect chargers, which runs the risk of over-charging, which can potentially have explosive results. As with all rechargeable electrical equipment, it's of vital importance that people use the correct type of charger for their e-cigs to prevent fires."
So make sure you're using the right equipment - or suffer the consequences.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Vape