Ireland: Safety alert regarding higher than permitted nicotine levels in e-liquids

The Health Service Executive's National Tobacco Control Office (HSE) has issued a notification RAPEX alert to Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, after discovering that some e-cigarette liquids contained more nicotine than the permitted level (20mg/ml in the EU).

The products subject to the alert were sampled and analyzed by the HSE, which found a nicotine concentration of up to 25.3 mg/ml. The nicotine concentration printed on the packaging indicated a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml or 2% of nicotine.[1].

Retailers have been asked to recall the products and consumers have been urged not to use them, as the HSE has stated they pose a serious health risk. The alert reminds us that acute exposure to large amounts of inhaled nicotine can cause dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Nicotine is acutely toxic and can pose a safety risk if the product comes into contact with the skin or is ingested.

A previous alert already issued in 2022 concerning puffs

In May 2022[2], the HSE had already issued an alert to the EU after discovering that some disposable e-cigarettes contained up to 50 mg/ml (5%) of nicotine. A total of 46 disposable e-cigarettes of different ranges and flavors, from the Aroma King brand, had been sampled and analyzed by the control agency. These e-cigarettes were sold in packages that indicated a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml (2%).

A recurring phenomenon in vaping products in Europe

Laboratory analyses in several European countries had already shown that several brands of vaping products, particularly puffs, actually contained a higher nicotine level than indicated on the packaging. Recently, laboratory analyses carried out by Inter Scientific[3] had shown that some e-cigarettes sold commercially in England and Wales, claiming to be nicotine-free, actually contained the same level of nicotine as conventional vaping devices or even levels higher than the legal limit.

In March 2022, theSwiss Association for the Prevention of Smoking had also noted several brands of puffs marketed in Switzerland that contained nicotine concentrations of 50 mg per milliliter, or even 60 mg/ml, which was up to three times the authorized limit in the country.

Keywords: Ireland, vaping, nicotine, electronic cigarette, e-liquids, Europe

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[1] Ellen O'Donoghue, HSE recalls e-cigarettes with higher than permitted levels of nitcotine, The Irish Times, published June 26, 2023, accessed June 27, 2023

[2] Press release from the Irish Health Service Executive, HSE Environmental Health Service takes market surveillance action against certain disposable e-cigarettes, May 18, 2022, accessed June 27, 2023

[3] Tobacco-free generation, UK: High nicotine levels in e-cigarettes sold as “0 nicotine”, published April 20, 2023, accessed June 27, 2023