TPD Compliance

EDGE – Quality & Compliance Without Compromise

Prior to the introduction of vaping regulations under the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the vaping industry was very much a “wild west”; rapid growth and constant innovations enticed many to get involved and try their hand at manufacturing e-liquids and vaping products for sale, even if it was in their own kitchen or bathroom! As with any growing industry, in order to establish concrete best practice, protect consumers and deliver consistently safe and high-quality products, regulation was needed. This necessity manifested itself in the form of the TPD, transforming the landscape of vaping compliance and introducing tight restrictions, putting an end to the days of “bathtub blending”. Under these regulations, any e-liquid manufactured for sale must be rigorously safety tested and registered with the MHRA for approval before it can ever reach consumers, safeguarding the public interest.

Read on and we will explain what it is that we do at EDGE to ensure everything we produce is fully compliant, so you can trust every bottle.

How Do We Ensure Total Compliance?

Once our Product Development Team have finalised a delicious new recipe, they run it through flavour trials and refine it until it ticks all the boxes – What happens next to ensure that this new e-liquid meets all safety standards so we can add it to our range?

Stage 1 – Classification and Labelling

Our talented Compliance Officers conduct a thorough analysis of all ingredients called a CLP breakdown. This involves carrying out special calculations with the exact amount of every single ingredient – there’s more than just PG,VG, flavouring and nicotine to think about – the premium flavourings we use are actually made up of many other ingredients, in tiny amounts, that are mixed together to form the concentrates we use to add fantastic flavour to our e-liquids.

Each of these ingredients has it’s concentration checked, and if found to be present at a level that may cause an allergic reaction, the CLP breakdown calculations tells us exactly what warnings for these “sensitisers” we must include on our packaging so you can buy with confidence and safety.

Stage 2 – Emissions Testing

Once the CLP breakdown has been completed, the e-liquid must undergo emissions testing to ensure that when heated in a vaping device, the vapour produced does not contain any harmful chemicals known as “Carbonyls”.

  • Using specialised equipment in our analytical lab, our expert technicians collect an aerosol sample of the e-liquid once it has been vapourised by an e-cigarette.
  • The sample is then passed through a special cartridge to derivatise any carbonyls within (this means they are converted to a form that can be measured more easily).
  • A solvent is then used to elute these carbonyl derivatives, creating a solution that is suitable for analysis.
  • This solution is then run through our HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) device which allows us to compare the sample’s carbonyl levels against pre-set calibration standards.
  • The final concentration of each carbonyl is then calculated and reported in units of μg/puff. If found to be at or below established safe levels, the e-liquid can then progress to be registered for sale.

Stage 3 – The Portal

All the data and information for the new e-liquid is then collected and submitted through an online platform called the EU-CEG portal. The information submitted includes the product name, manufacturer’s address, all it’s ingredient values and details from the CLP breakdown and Emissions results and more.

This submission is sent via e-Trustex for approval – if successful, the new product will appear on the MHRA’s website under their list of registered products.

Stage 4 – Sale!

Now the sample has passed all its tests, been fully analysed and approved, and finally registered for sale, we can begin mass-production and get it onto the shelves! Every batch produced undergoes further analysis when mixed, to ensure consistent quality across all our products. Each batch is individually tested for nicotine concentration to ensure it is within accepted parameters, while samples of finished batches are subject to organoleptic analysis (This is the study of their visual appearance, aroma and taste; all of which are compared to standard samples made in controlled conditions to establish a comparable baseline of quality). These additional steps further reinforce our dedication to the quality of our products.

We hope this provides you with some clarity on the complex process of ensuring your vaping products are compliant. At EDGE, we take every step and more to fulfil our promise of quality and commitment to compliance.