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Geek Bar says that it has sent a warning notice to all UK distributors telling them about the illicit products, which it believes originate from China.
The company – which is based in China – has been working with police there for the past few months and four illegal “factories” have already been found and shut down.
The illicit tobacco trade is based on evading the payment of duty but there is no similar duty on vaping products, so the vaping counterfeits are making money simply by producing inferior products at a cheaper price.
Geek Bar is working with vaping and retail trade associations as well as regulators to check and seize counterfeit products in the UK.
Allen Yang, chief executive at Geek Bar, said: “As a leading brand of disposable vapes in the UK, we take our responsibility very seriously.
“We will not accept products that don’t meet UK regulations entering the market and our message to distributors and retailers who allow this to happen is that it has to stop now.”
John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said: “Geek Bar got in touch as soon as they became aware of the issue surrounding non-compliant disposable vapes in the UK and it is clear to see that they are committed to doing everything they can do to bring distributors and retailers into line as well as deal robustly at source with the production of counterfeits.
“We’re providing intelligence relating to suspected offenders as well as helping connect them to the right people that can enable them to get on top of the problem.”
