Danish police have seized 18,000 disposable vapes and 2,900 liters of e-liquid flavoring that is illegal to sell in Denmark. This took place during a raid on a factory linked to an online sales site.
The black market for e-cigarettes is extensive in Denmark. According to several reports in the Danish media, it is mainly through the illicit trade that minors get hold of the highly regulated products. At the same time, many flavorings are banned in the country and disposable cigarettes are so tightly regulated that they can hardly be sold at all
"As far as disposable models are concerned, it is not a ban per se, but is based on the requirement that an e-cigarette must be child-resistant. And few disposable models are, according to the interpretation of our authorities," says Kim Dabelstein Petersen, President of the Dadafo user association.
Only one legal model
Disposable vapes are usually activated by simply sucking on the nozzle. At present, there is only one model that is considered child-resistant and is approved for sale on the market in Denmark. This model has a safety catch that must be held in order to activate the device.
Does not prevent minors
Now, the restriction of legal access has not prevented minors from acquiring disposable firearms. The black market is large, says Kim Dabelstein Petersen. Since last year, all flavorings, except so-called tobacco flavor and menthol, banned from sale in Denmark. The ban has had a major impact on vejpshoppers, who have severely restricted their ranges.
"Of course there is a basis for a black market. There was a white market before the ban. If you go on social media and search for e-cigarettes and e-liquid, you will find them in several closed forums. These can be buy-sell groups where experienced vejpers can find the flavors and devices they are used to. But for a young person looking for a mango vejp, it's very easy to find them, via snapchat, Instagram and similar social media. Prohibition doesn't work against this" says Kim Dabelstein Petersen.
Seized flavor shots
In the fall of 2022, the Danish Safety Authority flavorings (so-called Flavour shots) from a shop in Aalborg, which were said to be used to flavor neutral e-liquid with something other than tobacco flavour or menthol. The shop owner has appealed and the case is pending in court.
The Danish Safety Authority has also warned Swedish vejpshoppers against selling to Danish citizens, which has led to several retailers closing all sales to Denmark.
Sources:
TT (via MSN): Nicotine factory uncovered in Denmark
