At Vapestreams we pride ourselves on being totally clear with our customers and that you’re fully informed of what the Eliquid and Shortfill differences are, what PG and VG stand for and a brief overview of what TPD is.
This is why we have set out the below so you are fully informed of Eliquid and Shortfill differences, the law and regulations surrounding the use of tobacco products and e-cigarette devices, what some of the key facts are about what Eliquids are, what Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG) are and why exactly Eliquid products are short filled.
TPD Eliquid Regulations
Tobacco Products Directive which is also known as TPD is a regulation that was passed by the EU in 2014. This law governs the manufacture, presentation and sale of any tobacco and their related products. These include cigarettes, rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and their products such as shortfill bottles as well as any herbal products for smoking.In particular, this directive includes but isn’t limited to:
- Stops rolling tobacco and cigarettes from emphasising flavours.
- Requires the entire tobacco industry to report to all EU countries on the ingredients that they use in their products.
- Bans the promotional and misleading elements on any tobacco products that are designed for smoking.
- Requires that health warnings are visible on at least 65% of the front and back of cigarette and rolling tobacco products – (pictures, text and information on how to stop).
- Sets out safety, quality and any notification requirements for electronic cigarettes.
This sets down the maximum nicotine concentration and volume for cartridges, tanks, pods and any nicotine Eliquid containers. These should also be child-resistant and tamper-evident that has a mechanism to enable you to refill it without spilling things. E-cigarette ingredients have to be of high purity and e-cigarettes should deliver the same amount of nicotine when inhaled at the same strength and the same duration.
Health warnings for all e-cigarette products must advise consumers that they do contain nicotine and shouldn’t be used by non-smokers are absolutely mandatory as well as the packaging has to contain a list of ingredients that are in the product, its nicotine content and a leaflet on how it’s used and any adverse effects. Promotional elements on any packaging and advertising e-cigarettes are prohibited.
Eliquids (What Are They?)
E-liquid, also known as e-juice, is a solution consisting of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, food flavourings, and sometimes nicotine. This liquid can come in a variety of PG/VG ratios and nicotine strengths. Typically most cigarette smokers switching to e-cigarettes will start using high nicotine juices and move towards lower strength juices over time. There are a few extra differences that we’ll get into later with Eliquid and Shortfill differences.
PG – VG & Nicotine
When it comes to e-juice, two terms constantly crop up: PG and VG. This can seem confusing to the newcomer, but knowledge of these two ingredients can vastly improve your vaping experience. PG and VG are the odourless liquids that are combined with flavour and nicotine (when required) to create e-juice. Both PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerine) produce vapour when heated, which allow them to be inhaled. The two fluids have a different consistency to each other, and have a slightly different taste, giving distinct mouth and throat sensations when vaped. Most modern e-liquids use a combination of the two fluids, however, the ratio can vary dramatically. Some vaping set up’s can only work with a certain level of PG and VG so it is important to choose the right level for your equipment.
Shortfill
Since the introduction of the TPD (Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations, there has been a limit on the size of eliquid bottles containing nicotine. To help vapers who prefer to create their own nicotine percentage in a vape and also giving them more choice and flexibility in their choice of e-liquid flavours, the short fill bottle was introduced. Short fill bottles are only partly filled with nicotine-free e-liquids, leaving room in the bottle for the introduction of a measured dose of nicotine, allowing the user to control the percentage of nicotine in the final mix. These nic-shots are purchased separately, usually in 10 ml bottles and the short fill bottles usually come prefilled to 50 ml with enough space to add a full 10 ml nic-shot if required.
