The Guardia Civil has conducted a major operation resulting in the confiscation of more than 11,000 illegal vaping products, consisting of disposable and refillable vapes, flavours, rebranded labels for foreign-language products, and non-compliant packaging and labelling among the prominent items, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Authorities suspect that these products had been smuggled into the islands through unauthorized channels, posing a significant risk to public health.
The police operation was initiated following a tip-off regarding the unauthorized sale and distribution of vapes in the market, which did not meet the requirements established by the Spanish Ministry of Health through the General Directorate of Public Health. These requirements pertain to the manufacturing, labelling, and distribution of these products to ensure safe consumption.
The Fiscal and Border Patrol Unit of the Guardia Civil in Santa María de Guía swiftly conducted inspections in the capital city of Gran Canaria, uncovering these illicit products being sold in various establishments such as tobacconists, shops, and markets. Most of these items were acquired from sources outside the EU and imported illegally.
The sale and use of such illicit products can pose serious health risks since both European and Spanish laws have stringent controls in place to ensure their safety for consumers, as emphasized by the Guardia Civil.
Furthermore, improper disposal of disposable vapes can be detrimental to the environment, as they often end up with regular rubbish, as users are typically unaware that these devices contain batteries that should be appropriately recycled as electronic waste.
The Fiscal and Border Patrol Unit issued 12 violations for non-compliance with the regulations outlined in Royal Decree 579/2017 of June 9, which regulates aspects related to the manufacturing, presentation, and commercialization of tobacco and related products.
Manufacturers and importers aiming to sell nicotine-releasing devices or nicotine refill liquids in Spain are required to register their products on the European EU-CEG Portal and notify the General Directorate of Public Health.
The Guardia Civil has informed that inspections of establishments selling these products are ongoing, as the operation remains open. These kinds of incidents appear to be widespread across the islands.
