Vape alert: HSE issues two safety alerts after e-cigarettes found with illegal amounts of nicotine

'If you have any of these products, we want you to stop using it and return it to the shop where you bought it,” the HSE's Shane Keane said. Stock picture 

The HSE has issued a warning encouraging the public not to use two specific e-cigarette products which contain illegal amounts of nicotine.

The HSEs National Environmental Health Service, National Tobacco Control Office submitted two RAPEX alert notices after finding the products contained more than the permitted amount of nicotine.

The two products in question are:

• R and M Tornado 9000 Disposable Blueberry Cherry Cranberry, Expiry date: Unknown
• WGA Crystal Pro Max + 10K Puffs Blueberry Raspberry, Expiry date: Unknown.

People are asked to return them to the shop they were bought in, with retailers advised to stop selling the products.

After the HSE National Environmental Health Service sampled the two products subject to the RAPEX alert, they found the nicotine concentrations to be much higher than what was originally advertised.

The crystal Pro max, one of the two vape products being recalled. 

Upon laboratory analysis, the nicotine concentration was found to be 27.6 mg/ml for the R and M Tornado 9000 and 28.2mg/ml for the WGA The Crystal Pro Max + 10K Puffs, while the nicotine concentration advertised on the packaging said the product contained 20mg/ml or 2% nicotine.

The HSE has contacted all major Irish distributors of e-cigarettes and refill containers and made them aware of this issue.

HSE Environmental Health Service regional chief environmental health officer Shane Keane said manufacturers and importers are responsible to ensure the products comply with legislation.

“This includes the legal onus on manufacturers and importers to give full and proper advance notification to the HSE of their intention to place products on the Irish market via the European Common Entry Gate portal. 

"Furthermore, they are reminded they bear full responsibility for the quality and safety of these products, when placed on the market and used under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions.”

If the National Environmental Health Service determines that products made available or placed on the market do not comply with legal requirements, they will not hesitate to exercise legal enforcement powers, Mr Keane added.

As a precautionary measure our message for the public is to check the products you may have against the products involved in this alert. 

"If you have any of these products, we want you to stop using it and return it to the shop where you bought it,” he said.

The HSE is asking retailers to do the following:

• If you have any of these products, you must remove them from sale and contact the HSE at [e-mail] with product and full traceability details; 
• If you have sold or distributed any of the products above, a recall notice must be displayed in a prominent position in your retail premises and on your website and social media; 
• Retailers with any queries can contact the HSE at [e-mail];  
• More information on the products can be found by visiting the the EU safety alert site and searching for the words ‘electronic cigarette’.