E-cigarette laws to change THIS WEEK - Here's how NI vapers will be affected

The Tobacco Products Directive is set to affect those who smoke traditional cigarettes when it comes into force on May 20.

Smokers have been warned that the new rules will ban smaller packs of cigarettes and reduce the sale of menthol flavours.

However, a different part of the laws will also bring about changes in vaping and e-cigarettes. Although vaping itself will not be made illegal under the new laws, new restrictions on the strength of liquids and the size of tanks will be introduced.

We have looked at the different parts of the new law which will affect vapers.

E-liquid bottles over 10ml in size are illegal to sell

IT means large refills are no longer allowed. At the moment, 30ml is a common size, meaning vapers will have to buy several smaller bottles instead.

E-liquids cannot be stronger than 20mg per litre

At the moment the vape liquid can be much stronger than this.

Vape tanks can't be larger than 2ml in size

Perhaps in a bid to cut the amount people are able to vape easily, the maximum permissible size of the tanks has been made pretty small.

Vapers who use larger devices may now find their favourite model is no longer legal.

New labelling including safety warnings

All bottles and devices must now carry safety warnings on the labels

E-cigarettes must be registered

All e-cigarettes and e-liquids must now be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency.

It will probably mean an end to cheap e-cig products, as they will have to go through proper certification and testing.

Bottles and devices must be labelled with new safety warnings.

Some ingredients banned

Caffeine and taurine (most commonly seen in energy drinks) are now banned from being added to e-liquids. Goodbye, energy boosting vapes.

Any seller not complying with the new laws by May 20 faces up to two years in prison.