Residents in North Somerset are being warned of the
dangers of buying illicit or counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco
from unauthorised outlets.
Last week, two local men, both in their 60s, received cautions
from our Trading Standards service after the conclusion of an
investigation following a seizure of dangerous cigarettes from a
car boot sale in Weston-super-Mare.
Trading Standards are so concerned that these dangerous
cigarettes are circulating on the local black market that they are
asking the public to report the sale of cheap cigarettes or
tobacco. The brands seized included Lambert and Butler, Raquel,
Palace, Richman Royal, MG Gold, Drum, Golden Virginia and Cutters
Choice.
Analysis carried out on the seized cigarettes indicated that
they all grossly exceeded the permitted levels of both tar and
carbon monoxide, yet were considerably deficient in the declared
level of nicotine.
The worst example exceeded the permitted levels of tar by 86%
and carbon monoxide by 82%, yet had some 56% less nicotine content
than was indicated on the pack.
These results clearly demonstrate that illicit or counterfeit
tobacco products, being unregulated and therefore untested, can be
both very unsafe and of a very poor quality.
The seizure included more than 8,300 cigarettes and around 4kg
of hand rolling tobacco, with an estimated street value of around
£2,000 and an estimated detriment to local businesses of some
£3,500.
All of the cigarettes and tobacco lacked the legally required
health warnings and duty markings. In addition, a proportion of the
cigarettes were found to be counterfeit.
A car used to store the illicit goods at the car boot sale was
seized by Trading Standards and has subsequently been forfeited. In
addition, Avon and Somerset police officers, assisting Trading
Standards, seized £1,250 from the boot of the car which was subject
to a successful forfeiture application under the Proceeds of Crime
Act 2002 at Bristol Magistrates Court on Thursday, 18 March.
Cllr Peter Bryant, executive member responsible for Trading
Standards, said: "Consumers struggling with the ongoing credit
crunch may think they are getting a bargain by buying tobacco
products from unauthorised sellers at places like car boot sales.
However, they need to be aware of the extra risks they are posing
to their health by purchasing illegal products.
“The work that Trading Standards are doing is absolutely vital
in protecting the public and this seizure represents a volume of
potentially dangerous material being removed from sale.
"This illicit trade devastates legitimate retailers who pay
their taxes and abide by the rules. They shouldn’t have to compete
with criminals who sell untaxed and smuggled goods which have been
shown to be dangerous and worthless.
"I encourage residents to report anyone they know who is dealing
in this trade.”
NHS North Somerset praised Trading Standards’ continuing
vigilance over counterfeit cigarettes and confirmed that it, too,
was tackling the issue of cheap and illicit tobacco trade as a
matter of urgency.
Fiona Miles, the Health Improvement Development Manager of NHS
North Somerset, said: “This is a key part of our tobacco control
strategy and we are working closely with Trading Standards, through
the North Somerset Tobacco Alliance, to deliver a smoke free future
for everyone.”
If you have any information on individuals selling illicit or
counterfeit tobacco please contact Trading Standards on 0845 04 05
06 or email
trading.standards@n-somerset.gov.uk.
For more information about the service look at our
Trading Standards
pages.
