If you have ever bought vape juice or a device in the UK, you may have seen the phrase “TPD compliant” on packaging or websites. But what does it actually mean? TPD compliance refers to meeting the standards set by the Tobacco Products Directive, a law introduced in 2016 that regulates how e liquids and vaping products are made, packaged, and sold across the UK and Europe.
Being TPD compliant is not optional for manufacturers and retailers. Every product on the market must follow these rules or risk being removed from sale. For vapers, it means that what you buy has been tested, labelled, and registered with regulators to ensure a consistent level of safety and transparency.
What is it?
The Tobacco Products Directive, or TPD, was brought in to regulate both tobacco and vaping products. For e liquids and devices, it introduced strict limits on nicotine strength, bottle size, and tank capacity. It also set out rules for child-resistant packaging, tamper-evident seals, and mandatory health warnings.
In the UK, the TPD is overseen by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Any product you see marked as TPD compliant has been through this registration process.
What makes a product TPD compliant?
A product is classed as TPD compliant when it meets all of the following criteria:
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Nicotine strength: Cannot exceed 20mg per ml.
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Bottle size: Nicotine-containing e liquid bottles cannot be larger than 10ml.
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Tank size: Vape tanks cannot hold more than 2ml of e liquid.
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Packaging: Must be childproof, tamper-evident, and include clear health warnings.
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Testing and notification: Products must undergo emissions testing and be registered with the MHRA before being sold.
If a product does not meet these requirements, it cannot legally be sold in the UK.
What does TPD compliance mean for e liquid?
For e liquid, compliance mainly affects nicotine levels and bottle sizes. You will not find bottles larger than 10ml containing nicotine because of the TPD. This is why most vapers buy nicotine in small bottles, while larger 100ml bottles are sold as nicotine-free shortfills.
Shortfills are fully legal because they are sold without nicotine, which means they are not restricted by the 10ml rule. Customers can add their own nicotine shots afterwards to create the desired strength. This loophole has made shortfills one of the most popular choices for UK vapers.
If you want to explore compliance topics beyond bottle size and nicotine strength, our Vape Regulations and Law hub has detailed guides on TPD rules, the upcoming UK vape tax, MSDS requirements, and other regulations that affect the vaping industry.
What does TPD compliance mean for devices?
For vaping devices, compliance is mainly about tank capacity and safety features. Tanks are restricted to 2ml capacity, which means larger international versions of popular tanks cannot be sold in the UK without being reduced in size. Devices must also deliver nicotine consistently, avoiding spikes that could harm users.
Manufacturers have to redesign and test products to meet these rules before they can be approved by the MHRA. If a device is labelled TPD compliant, you can be confident it meets these standards.
Why TPD compliance matters
For consumers, TPD compliance means greater peace of mind. Every compliant product has been tested, labelled, and approved before it reaches the shelf. For businesses, it ensures that only safe, regulated products are sold, creating a more consistent marketplace.
Without the TPD, there would be a risk of unsafe liquids, untested ingredients, or poorly designed devices being sold. While the rules are sometimes criticised as restrictive, they have helped to standardise vaping in the UK and improve trust in the products available.
The controversy around compliance
Not everyone is happy with TPD compliance. Many vapers argue that the 10ml rule increases cost and plastic waste, while the 2ml tank restriction is seen as impractical for sub ohm users. The 20mg nicotine cap is also viewed as a barrier for heavy smokers who might need higher strengths to transition to vaping.
However, even critics admit that the directive created a safer and more reliable market. The rise of shortfills shows how the industry adapted to compliance, offering a legal solution that still meets customer demand for larger bottles.
TPD compliance and shortfills
One of the biggest success stories to come out of TPD compliance is the shortfill. By selling nicotine-free 100ml bottles, manufacturers created a format that bypassed the 10ml nicotine restriction while remaining legal. Customers simply add nic shots later, mixing them into the bottle to reach their desired strength.
This means you can still buy larger bottles for better value without breaking the law. If you want to see what is available, check out our 100ml vape juice collection which offers a wide variety of flavours at excellent prices.
Final thoughts
TPD compliance means that every vape juice and device sold in the UK meets strict standards on safety, packaging, and quality. From the 10ml bottle rule to the 2ml tank limit, these rules shape the vaping industry and explain why products look the way they do today.
While some vapers find the restrictions frustrating, compliance has made the market safer and more consistent. Shortfills emerged as a creative way to stay compliant while still offering value, proving that the industry can adapt to regulations.
Understanding what TPD compliance means helps you make informed choices and appreciate why the products you use are designed the way they are.
For context on why these checks exist and how they started, read what is tpd then come back to your audit. If you are budgeting for next year, link your checklist with the uk vape tax so pricing reflects duty-in costs.
If your policy covers who you can sell to, include the guidance in what is the legal age to vape. For documentation standards that sit behind labels and COSHH, use what is on msds sheets to make sure your SDS set is complete.