Illicit products work now most common tobacco control activity: TSI

The most common tobacco control activity carried out by trading standards teams is – for the first time in more than ten years of data collection ­– in relation to tackling the supply of illicit tobacco rather than underage sales.

The 2013/14 Tobacco Control Survey, undertaken each year by the Trading Standards Institute on behalf of the Department of Health, found that 91% of the responding councils had taken action in relation to illicit tobacco and 88% in relation to preventing under age sales of tobacco products.

The survey also revealed that 65% of councils were reporting taking action in relation to electronic cigarettes. “This is in line with an increasing availability and usage of these products by consumers,” the TSI said.

In relation to underage sales, one in four respondent councils (27%) reported that they had brought prosecutions. In relation to illicit products, 47% brought prosecutions.

The TSI said that to support the under-age sales aspect of trading standards work the Department of Health had recently commissioned the Institute to develop and deliver a new project to run from December 2014 through to March 2015.

“This will seek to enhance competence in intelligence gathering for illegal under age sales of tobacco and provide a programme of testing by council trading standards,” it said, adding that the project would be run by the regional coordinator network.