TRPR and TPD Explained

TRPR and TPD decide which vapes reach UK shelves. The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) began as European Union law in 2014. The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR) copied that framework into UK law and stay in force today. Both fix the nicotine strength, bottle size and tank capacity of every compliant product. The NHS describes vaping as less harmful than smoking, but not risk-free, which is the reason these safety limits exist. Royal Vapery stocks only TRPR compliant e-liquids and pod kits, so this guide sets out what the rules mean before you buy.

What are TRPR and TPD?

TRPR and TPD are two linked regulations that set the safety standard for every vape sold in the UK. The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) is European Union legislation from 2014 that first regulated e-cigarettes and e-liquids across member states. The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR) is the UK statute that transposed the TPD into domestic law. TRPR keeps the same product limits, testing duties and labelling rules as the directive it implements. Both frameworks share one purpose: safe, tested, clearly labelled products for adult vapers.

What is the difference between TRPR and TPD?

The main difference between TRPR and TPD is jurisdiction, not content. TPD is the EU directive; TRPR is the UK law that enacts it. The product limits are identical, yet the enforcing body and the power to amend differ.

TRPR carries the same 20mg/ml, 10ml and 2ml limits as the TPD. The gap that matters sits in that final row: the UK now writes its own vape policy, which is why the disposable ban and the vape duty exist here and not across the EU.

Are UK vape laws the same as EU rules?

Yes, UK vape laws still mirror the EU rules, for now. TRPR retained the full TPD standard after Brexit, so nicotine strength, bottle size, tank capacity and product testing stay identical on both sides. UK lawmakers hold the power to diverge, and that divergence has started. The single-use disposable ban and the coming vape duty are UK-only measures with no EU equivalent. For everyday buyers, the familiar limits stay unchanged, so a compliant device performs the same as it did under EU rules.

What are the main TRPR and TPD limits on vapes?

TRPR and TPD set four core product limits that every UK vape meets. Each rule protects consumers from concentrated nicotine and confirms a product is genuine.

• Nicotine strength: e-liquid contains no more than 20mg/ml (2%) nicotine, the maximum for salts, freebase and prefilled pods alike.
• Refill bottle size: a nicotine-containing bottle holds 10ml at most, which is why 10ml is the standard bottle for nic salts.
• Tank and pod capacity: a tank, pod or cartridge holds 2ml or less, applied to refillable and prefilled devices.
• MHRA notification: every device and e-liquid is notified to, and published by, the MHRA before sale.

The MHRA confirms these figures on GOV.UK for every product sold to UK consumers, in its e-cigarettes regulations guidance.

How does the 10ml e-liquid rule work?

The 10ml rule caps nicotine e-liquid at 10ml per bottle, so any nicotine-containing bottle larger than that breaks TRPR. Manufacturers answered the cap with the shortfill. A shortfill is a larger nicotine-free bottle, typically 50ml or 100ml, with headroom for the buyer to add a 10ml nic shot. The workaround stays compliant because TRPR governs only nicotine-containing liquid at the point of sale. Vapers who want volume buy shortfill e-liquids and mix a nic shot to their preferred strength, keeping cost per millilitre low.

What is MHRA notification?

MHRA notification is the compliance gate every UK vape passes before sale. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the competent authority under Part 6 of TRPR. Producers submit ingredient, emissions and safety data, and each product receives an identifier and appears on a published list. A product missing from that list cannot be legally supplied. Notification proves the manufacturer tested the product and disclosed what it contains, which is the practical difference between a legal vape and an illicit one.

How can I tell if a vape is TPD compliant?

Check a vape against four TRPR markers to confirm it is compliant. Run this list before you buy from any unfamiliar seller.

1. 1 Confirm the nicotine strength reads 20mg/ml or lower on the label.
2. 2 Check a nicotine bottle holds 10ml or less, or a tank or pod holds 2ml or less.
3. 3 Look for the nicotine warning, ingredient list, batch number and expiry date on the packaging.
4. 4 Verify the product appears on the MHRA published list for Great Britain.

A device advertising thousands of puffs from a single sealed 2ml pod, or a bottle above 20mg/ml, fails these checks and is illegal. Buying from a reputable retailer, and choosing a rechargeable pod kit over a sealed device, removes most of the guesswork.

Are disposable vapes still legal under UK regulations?

No, single-use disposable vapes are no longer legal to sell. The ban took effect on 1 June 2025 under the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations 2024, applied across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The measure removed non-rechargeable, non-refillable devices from the legal market, driven by plastic waste and youth uptake. TRPR limits still apply to every compliant product that replaced them. Compliant replacements such as prefilled pod kits and refillable pod kits now deliver a similar draw and flavour with rechargeable batteries and swappable pods.

What is the Vaping Products Duty?

Vaping Products Duty (VPD) is a new excise tax on e-liquid from 1 October 2026. HMRC charges a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml (22p per ml) on all vaping liquid, whether it contains nicotine or not, with VAT added on top. A 10ml bottle carries £2.20 in duty; a 100ml shortfill carries £22 before nic shots. Duty stamps appear on retail packaging from that date, and unstamped stock cannot be sold after 31 March 2027. GOV.UK sets out the full detail in its Vaping Products Duty guidance.

What is the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026?

The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is the newest legal layer above TRPR. It passed into law on 29 April 2026. The Act grants staged powers over vape flavours, packaging, displays and advertising, plus the generational tobacco sale restriction. Several provisions arrive through later secondary legislation and public consultation, so specific flavour or packaging rules are not yet fixed. The age of sale for vapes stays at 18. For product limits today, TRPR remains the framework that governs what sits on the shelf.

Why do TRPR and TPD regulations matter for UK vapers?

TRPR and TPD matter because they guarantee tested products. The rules force emissions testing, ban ingredients of concern such as diacetyl, and require clear nicotine warnings, so a legal vape carries no hidden surprises. Trading Standards has found that a meaningful share of the market still trades outside these rules, which is why the source of a product matters as much as the product. Royal Vapery stocks only TRPR compliant e-liquids and pod kits, MHRA-notified and clearly labelled, so every purchase meets the current UK standard.

Frequently asked questions

18+ only. Vaping is less harmful than smoking but not risk-free, and is intended for adult smokers. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Products sold by Royal Vapery are TRPR compliant and MHRA-notified, with age verification at checkout. Regulatory references are correct as of July 2026.