Oooh its Handbags at Dawn!
There is a bit of a scrap between BAT (British American Tobacco) and the ElfBar brand in the UK!
What is it all about?
Vape War?
An article in the Daily Mirror has popped up titled “Tobacco firm’s report to trading standards officers sparks “vape war”…
So basically British American Tobacco (a.k.a. BAT) who own the Vuse vape brand, reported the Chinese brand ElfBar for breaching UK TPD regulations.
Earlier this year some products were found exceeding the permitted e-liquid capacity which resulted in some ElfBars being removed from sale in the UK. This story was widely reported.
As a follow up BAT conducted their own tests weeks later and found 71 batches of ElfBar 600 and Lost Mary vapes which were breaking the rules.
BAT chief Sam Millicheap wrote the following to Trading Standards…
“I hope you find this information useful for any enforcement action.”
A Trading Standards officer apparently told the Daily Mirror that no action was taken and added…
“The real problems are illegal products.”
It is claimed by ElfBar, that a snubbed takeover bid from BAT has triggered the reports.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) have also waded into the situation – accusing BAT of starting a “vape war” and criticised BAT for contacting trading standards.
ElfBar have said…
“We have been working to assure future compliance.”
And BAT said…
“We believe manufacturers should ensure that their products adhere to applicable laws.”
I know that BAT are in the right here, no products for sale in the UK should be breaching TPD regulations. We argue on how well UK vaping products are regulated.
However it does seem a bit spiteful for a large Tobacco company to start beef like this. Is there more than a bit of a fishy whiff to this?
And it is all “he said, she said” – plus of course there may be a twinkle of sensationalism from the Daily Mirror…
Elfbar claims BAT’s complaint came after it snubbed a takeover bid.https://t.co/Fu4gbLEjyN
— ASH (@AshOrgUK) April 25, 2023
