Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 8 Apr. (Press Europa) –
Officers from the Civil Guard’s fiscal and border patrol in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Playa de las Américas have recently seized a total of 1,138 disposable nicotine-releasing devices valued at over 17,000 euros, which did not adhere to current regulations set forth by the Ministry of Health regarding labelling and manufacturing requirements, lacking the necessary health registration.
The inquiry commenced after agents noticed the illegal sale and distribution of these products across several shops located in the southern area of Tenerife, particularly within the municipalities of Adeje and Arona.
This situation poses a potential health hazard to the public, as it disrupts the sales channels established by health authorities for safe consumption, cautions the Civil Guard in a statement.
Consequently, four inspections were carried out, during which officers confirmed the violations of the established regulations, prompting them to file corresponding complaints under Law 28/2005, dated 26 December, on sanitary measures against smoking and regulating the sale, supply, consumption, and advertising of tobacco products, in accordance with Royal Decree 579/2019 from June, which governs specific aspects related to the manufacture, presentation, and marketing of tobacco and similar products.
Most of the confiscated devices are believed to have been sourced from outside the European Union through unauthorised importers.
In this respect, the regulations stipulate that manufacturers and importers wishing to market nicotine-releasing devices or nicotine refill liquids in Spain must register the product on the EU-CEG European portal and also notify the General Directorate of Public Health.
The investigation remains ongoing, in case additional establishments engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of these products are discovered.
