Signal: Safety / compliance · Evidence: Confirmed UK testing · Scope: UK · Family: Vapes / nicotine-free
Date checked: 30 September 2026
What has testing found?
National Trading Standards reported in March 2025 that 76 products sold to UK consumers as nicotine-free vapes were laboratory tested through Operation Joseph. Ten products — 13.2% of the tested sample — contained nicotine, with measured concentrations ranging from 0.06 mg/ml to 27.02 mg/ml.
All ten products found to contain nicotine also exceeded the permitted e-liquid volume for nicotine vapes. Two exceeded both the e-liquid volume and nicotine-strength limits.
Why this matters
A vape labelled “0%”, “zero nicotine” or “nicotine-free” should not automatically be assumed to contain no nicotine. Product labelling and appearance alone cannot confirm the contents of an illicit or non-compliant vape.
What this does not tell us
The 13.2% figure describes the 76 products selected for this Trading Standards testing exercise. It is not an estimate of the proportion of all nicotine-free vapes in Wales or the UK that contain nicotine, and it is not a measure of youth prevalence.
For schools, families and youth settings
If an unfamiliar vape is found, do not open, taste or test it. Follow your safeguarding or incident process. If someone becomes unwell after vaping, seek appropriate medical help.
By ASH Wales