What does the TPD mean for manufacturers of vape products, such as disposable e-cigarettes or e-liquids? In other words, TPD stands for the Tobacco Products Directive, which governs the production and sale of smoking and vaping products.” Although it was established back in 2001, the term “e-cigarette” was not well-known until 2014, after it underwent several complex changes. According to Wikipedia, the renewed European regulation became applicable in the EU Member States in 2016, undergoing regular revisions. It basically means that it is constantly changing and evolving. So, what’s it all about?
TPD is the acronym for a directive of the European Union.
The name of the European directive TPD can be a bit misleading since vape cigarettes cannot be classified as tobacco products. Yes, some e-cigarettes offer a tobacco flavor, but they do not contain any tobacco, only nicotine in some cases. Regulation under the Tobacco Products Directive simply considers them as related products to traditional tobacco cigarettes, so manufacturers have no choice but to meet its specific requirements. Otherwise, they won’t have access to the lucrative European market, where significant amounts of money are at stake, especially when it comes to vaping, which is a very hot trend not only on the Old Continent.
How is the TPD related to vape cigarettes or e-liquids?
As mentioned earlier, the European Tobacco Products Directive establishes clear rules within the European Union that manufacturers of vape products, such as disposable e-cigarettes or vape liquids, must adhere to. In simple terms, if they want their products to be available in stores or e-shops, they must adjust them to meet the specific requirements of the regulatory directive. For instance, the directive specifies that the volume of a single e-liquid shouldn’t exceed 10 ml, while the volume of e-liquid in a disposable e-cigarette shouldn’t be more than 2 ml. Vape products must also display a clearly visible symbol consisting of the infamous large exclamation mark and a human skull.
“This Directive applies to the manufacture, presentation, and sale of tobacco-related products including cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and herbal products for smoking.”
Wikipedia
Tobacco Products Directive
However, it is not just about pointless regulation. The main role of the controversial European TPD, aka Tobacco Products Directive, is to protect final consumers. Therefore, it mandates producers and vape brands to provide pertinent authorities with information about their business and their vape products even before placing them on the EU market. This involves data about the liquid content formulation and toxicology, providing an overview of whether potential consumers face any serious or acute risks.
TPD registration of vape business and product
Regarding TPD registration, it can be considered a type of reporting obligation. Manufacturers of e-cigarettes or e-liquids must provide specific information even before launching the sale. Based on this information, the relevant authority will determine whether everything complies with the European Tobacco Products Directive.
If a product were to be placed on the market before completing the registration of the vape business, the manufacturer or seller would face significant penalties. After the relatively straightforward process is completed, they will receive important numbers in the format XXXXX-XX-XXXXX, which essentially serve as unique identifiers for the successful registration of the vape product.
If someone wants to be sure that they are buying a quality and safe vape product, it will be best to choose a well-known, larger brand (of course, there are exceptions, such as CHILLBAR). Especially problematic are unknown Chinese e-cigarettes, which offer 2,000, 3,000, or even 5,000 puffs, containing as much as 5 percent nicotine. Such products would certainly not pass the current European TPD. This is also why, in Slovakia, only disposable vapes with 600 to 1,000 puffs are commonly available.
