FOI request (FOIR-755107944)

Illegal vapes and nicotine replacement seizures

Requested Tue 07 October 2025
Responded Fri 10 October 2025

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please provide the following information separately for each calendar year from 2020 to 2025 (up to latest available data), unless requested otherwise.

Section 1. Number of illegal products seized, in the below categories:

a. How many units of the following products were seized in total?

b. Any e-cigarettes/vaping devices/e-liquid products.

c. Single-use disposable vaping devices (post 1st June, 2025).

d. Cigarette or hand-rolling tobacco packs.

e. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches.

Section 2. Information on enforcement:

a. How many Trading Standards inspections of premises selling vaping devices, cigarettes and tobacco, or nicotine pouch products have taken place?

b. How many reports of tobacco-free nicotine pouches being sold to persons under the age of 18 have you received?

Section 3. For the below questions, we request the individual data for i) Illegal vaping devices, ii) Illegal single-use disposable vaping devices (post-1st June, 2025), and iii) Illegal cigarette/hand-rolling tobacco products:

a. The number of identified cases of illegal products being in possession of, stocked, or sold by businesses or individuals.

b. How many (count of) fines or penalties have been issued for being in possession of, stocking, or selling the illegal products?

c. What was the total value in £ pound sterling of fines issued by your local authority for illegal vapes?

---

Response

Information not held.

Trading Standards is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk