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What Is The Tobacco And Related Products Regulations?
Legal Guides
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 is the primary piece of UK legislation governing vaping products. Here is a clear guide to what it covers, what it requires and why it matters for every vaper who buys from a regulated UK retailer.
2016
Year TRPR Came Into Force in the UK
MHRA
The Regulator That Oversees UK Vaping Product Notifications
Protection
Buying TRPR-Compliant Products Means Meeting Minimum Safety Standards
What TRPR is
What Is the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016?
The primary UK law governing vaping products
TRPR sets standards for ingredients, nicotine limits, packaging, labelling and advertising
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR) implemented the European Union's revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) into UK law. It came into force on 20 May 2016 and established a comprehensive regulatory framework for vaping products in the UK for the first time. The regulations cover product safety standards, maximum nicotine concentrations, container size limits, banned ingredients, health warnings, packaging requirements, notification to the MHRA and restrictions on advertising. Post-Brexit, the UK retained TRPR in UK domestic law and it continues to govern vaping products in England, Scotland and Wales.
This is a general information guide. TRPR is a complex regulatory instrument. Manufacturers, importers and retailers with specific compliance questions should consult Trading Standards or a specialist regulatory advisor.
What TRPR covers
The Key Provisions of TRPR
Maximum Nicotine Concentration: 20mg/ml
TRPR caps the maximum nicotine concentration in UK e-liquids at 20 milligrams per millilitre. This applies to both freebase nicotine and nicotine salt formulations. Products with higher nicotine concentrations cannot legally be sold as consumer e-liquids in the UK through regulated retailers. The 20mg/ml limit was set with reference to evidence on nicotine delivery and consumer protection and is shared with EU member states that implemented the TPD.
Container and Tank Size Limits
TRPR limits e-liquid refill containers to a maximum of 10ml. Tanks and cartridges in vaping devices must not exceed 2ml capacity. These limits manage nicotine exposure risks and prevent the sale of very large nicotine reservoirs that could present safety risks. The 10ml limit is the reason standard UK e-liquid bottles come in 10ml sizes rather than the 30ml or 60ml sizes common in unregulated markets.
Product Notification to the MHRA
Before any e-liquid or vaping device can be legally placed on the UK market, the manufacturer or importer must submit a product notification to the MHRA. The notification includes detailed information about ingredients, emissions testing, toxicological data and nicotine content. The MHRA maintains a public register of notified products. Any product sold in a UK regulated retailer should have been through this notification process. Products without notification are non-compliant with TRPR.
Prohibited Ingredients
TRPR prohibits certain ingredients in e-liquids including diacetyl and acetyl propionyl (the compounds associated with popcorn lung risk), colouring agents in nicotine-containing liquids, caffeine, taurine and other specified additives. Ingredients must be of high purity and must not produce risks to human health. These prohibitions provide meaningful consumer protection that is absent in unregulated products.
Packaging, Labelling and Health Warnings
E-liquid packaging must carry specified health warnings including a statement that the product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. Packaging must be childproof and tamper-evident. Labels must list all ingredients and state the nicotine content per millilitre. These requirements ensure consumers can make informed decisions and that products are not accessible to children without deliberate effort.
Advertising and Marketing Restrictions
TRPR restricts the advertising of vaping products across multiple media channels including broadcast media, much of print media and certain digital advertising. These restrictions are designed to prevent vaping being promoted to young people or non-smokers. They represent a significant constraint on how vaping businesses can market their products.
"TRPR is why buying from a regulated UK retailer matters. The products we stock have been notified to the MHRA, cannot contain the banned compounds and have met the packaging and ingredient standards. That is not the case for grey market imports."
Touch of Vape team, LeicesterWhy it matters for vapers
Why TRPR Matters for Every UK Vaper
01
It means the products in regulated shops have met minimum safety standards
MHRA notification, ingredient compliance and banned compound exclusions all apply to products sold by registered UK retailers operating under TRPR.
02
It explains why UK product specifications differ from imports
The 10ml bottle limit, 20mg/ml nicotine cap and banned ingredients list explain why UK-compliant products look different from products available in unregulated markets.
03
Non-compliant products carry unknown risks
Products sold outside the TRPR framework, unbranded imports, products without MHRA notification, have not been through the minimum safety assessment that TRPR requires.
04
It is not perfect: but it is meaningful
TRPR is not a guarantee of absolute safety. It is a minimum standard framework. Buying from a compliant regulated retailer is substantially better than buying without that protection.
Touch of Vape Leicester
All Products at Touch of Vape Leicester Are TRPR-Compliant
We stock only MHRA-notified, TRPR-compliant products. Come in with confidence.
To find our Leicester store, visit our Vape Shop Leicester page.
From our Legal guide
Part of our Legal guide
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Our Legal guide covers TRPR, the MHRA, UK vaping product standards and the regulatory framework that protects vapers.
Find more UK vaping regulation guides in our Legal guide.
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