NextGEN360 are calling for more regulation of the liquids widely used within the vaping industry.
We acknowledge more needs to be done to ensure consumers have full transparency over vape liquid ingredients and how they are manufactured. As a group, we are committed to operating only within markets that are subject to regulation. Without strong standards, the customer is left open to exploitation and our industry is degraded by malpractice and diminished reputation.
Studies show unregulated vape liquids, usually nicotine-free products, are the main cause of vaping-related illnesses like the isolated cases seen in the United States. In those instances, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and vitamin E, a coagulant that is often added to bulk-up inferior vape liquid, has been identified as detrimental to lung health with prolonged use. (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) (CDC).
NextGEN360, owned by STADA a pan-European pharmaceutical company that develops and manufactures branded and generic pharmaceutical products, continues to challenge the category to ensure we go above and beyond in customer safety and quality. We ensure our vape liquids, regardless of whether they contain nicotine, meet the obligations of the Tobacco & Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR) and CLP Regulations (EC). We are committed to leading the industry in the manufacture of the safest possible vape liquids whilst being transparent with our customers in our efforts to enhance the reputation of the category.
NextGEN360 recognised the vulnerability of the current regulation early on. One of the main issues includes the lack of regulation surrounding Short Fill products. As Short Fills don’t contain nicotine, they don’t fall within the scope of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and therefore outside of any meaningful oversight. This has led to an increase in their manufacture by businesses unconcerned with public safety and those who are simply exploiting the public’s lack of awareness when it comes to inhalable products. This is a significant loophole which, for example, allows the addition of certain flavourings that can unknowingly come with potentially harmful by-products such as Acetyl Propionyl, Pentanedione and Diacetyl. These chemicals are all proven to cause a variety of health issues including the development of respiratory dysfunction, damage to airways and abnormal lung function. NextGEN360 works tirelessly to prevent these same risks by ensuring our products undergo a rigorous testing regime beyond the standards mandated by the TPD despite these same standards not applying to Short Fills. We know there are other brands in the UK selling inferior Short Fills.
“Calling for tighter controls on Short Fills will remove this risk to consumers by making them subject to the same strict testing and controls required by Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). We ensure that our EDGE Short Fill products follow the same stringent testing as our Nicotine-containing vape liquids from Carbonyl Emissions Testing to full Hazard Classifications.”
Lizi Jenkins, Head of Technical & Development – NextGEN360
NextGEN360’s investment in analytical capabilities and enhanced testing ensures our customers enjoy the safest possible vape liquid in the UK market. We don’t just meet the safety requirements by UK law – we exceed them by a significant measure. Working alongside well-known industry experts and utilising state-of-the-art facilities, the company has developed its own methods for testing vape liquid, nicotine and the resulting emissions. All methods have been independently verified by third-party consultants to ensure accuracy and validity across the board. We were recently audited to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) criteria – a system ensuring products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. NextGEN360 received no Non-Conformances and passed the GMP audit.
Alongside NextGEN360’s in-house testing capabilities, we also commissioned an independent report in relation to tolerable levels for six key carbonyl vape liquid analytes. BIBRA (Toxicology advice & consulting) was asked to propose health-based tolerable inhalation levels (health criteria values (HCV)) for the six specific carbonyl compounds that are routinely detected in vape emissions. Within the industry, the tolerable levels are not determined by any legal framework. Therefore, our submission to BIBRA was completely at our discretion and not a requirement of the TPD or the MHRA. NextGEN360’s products were found to not only operate within the safe parameters of the identified carbonyl compounds – but under-indexed in comparison to other vaping products.
At NextGEN360, we believe strengthening the regulations to include Short Fills whilst testing vape liquids within a BIBRA-style framework is the only way to ensure that all products on the market meet appropriate levels of safety and quality. As it stands, NextGEN360 is not obliged by any law or regulation to commission BIBRA, to be accredited to GMP standards, to build our own internal and externally validated toxicity reports or even maintain our facilities to pharmaceutical standards; with clean rooms and an in-house laboratory. We know we are the exception – but this should be the rule.
About NextGEN360
NextGEN360 is one of the largest vape liquid manufacturers in the UK, supporting hundreds of companies around the world with premium OEM e-liquids of exceptional flavour and quality.
We produce products not only for our own brands but for some of the most recognised e-liquid brands in the UK. Our superior manufacturing capability provides the foundation for our success, allowing us to create exceptional mass-market white label solutions for shops and retail chains, both nationally and internationally.
Our loyal and growing customer base regards us as the best e-liquid manufacturer and white label vape liquid provider in the industry.
