Vape labels in the UK depend on what is inside the product, not on the hardware: a nicotine e-liquid has detailed label rules under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR), CBD sold as a food follows food-regulator guidance, and empty hardware carries no content label of its own, so the duty sits with whoever fills, brands and sells it. At the time of writing, those are the three routes we can verify from official sources. Below we set out what each route asks for, how to label hardware only about 10mm wide, and when engraving beats a sticker. Take legal advice for your own product.
Key takeaways
- Detailed label rules in the TRPR apply to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers, not to every vape product.
- A brand that re-brands a product as its own is a producer under the MHRA definition, and takes on the responsibilities that follow.
- CBD guidance from the Food Standards Agency covers CBD as a food, so check which regime your product falls under.
- A cartridge 10.5mm in diameter wraps to about 33mm of label width, so legal text usually belongs on the box.
- Laser engraving suits permanent brand marks, and a label or box carries the changing text.
What should a vape label show in the UK?
A vape label in the UK must show what the rules for that product type require, and for nicotine e-liquids those rules are set out in regulation 37 of the TRPR. At the time of writing, regulation 37 requires each unit packet and any container pack to carry these items:
- A list of all ingredients in descending order by weight.
- The nicotine content and the delivery per dose.
- The batch number.
- A recommendation to keep the product out of reach of children.
- The health warning “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance”.
The same regulation says that warning must appear on the front and back surfaces, cover 30% of each, and be set in black Helvetica bold type on a white background. Nicotine products must also include a leaflet. Those rules apply only to nicotine products.
The wider picture is set out in the government guidance on e-cigarette regulations for consumer products. It says the TRPR also require child-resistant and tamper-evident packaging, ban certain ingredients, and require notification to the MHRA before sale.
What a hardware supplier labels
3DevicesCCELL supplies hardware only, never oil, and it ships empty. Any label that describes contents, strength or ingredients is therefore written by the party that fills the hardware and puts it on sale. That is why the rest of this post is about what your label should do, not what ours says.
Who counts as the producer?
The same guidance defines a producer as anyone who manufactures or imports these products, or who re-brands any product as their own. For a brand that puts its name on authentic CCELL hardware, that definition matters. Our UK and Europe compliance note for extract brands explains how responsibility passes along the chain.
Label rules by product type
The table below sets the three product routes side by side, using only official sources and the position at the time of writing.
| Product type | Main rules | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine e-liquid and e-cigarettes | Ingredient list, nicotine content, batch number, child warning, a 30% health warning, no promotional claims, MHRA notification | TRPR regulation 38 and the MHRA guidance above |
| CBD sold as a food | Novel food authorisation and food labelling rules, with an encouraged daily intake statement | Food Standards Agency CBD guidance |
| Hardware sold empty | The product label rules attach to the finished product, so the filler and brand carry them | MHRA producer definition |
Regulation 38 sets out what packaging may not do. It may not promote the product by creating an erroneous impression, suggest it is less harmful, claim health or lifestyle benefits, refer to taste or smell, resemble a food or cosmetic, or offer vouchers and discounts. That list is a useful filter for any custom vape labels you plan.
CBD products and the FSA
The FSA guidance covers CBD as a novel food, meaning products consumed as food. It says CBD products must also be labelled as required by general food labelling law. In the sources we checked, we found no official UK guidance that sets a specific label for inhaled CBD cartridges, so which regime applies to your product is a question for your adviser.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, according to a government announcement. It says the Act bans vape advertising and sponsorship and gives powers to restrict packaging, branding and displays designed to appeal to children.
Detailed rules depend on regulations made under the Act, so read our Tobacco and Vapes Act checklist for hardware suppliers and confirm the current position before printing.
Labelling small hardware: sizes and materials
Small hardware gives a label very little area, so measure the body before you design anything. The CCELL TH2 EVOMAX cartridge is 10.5mm in diameter, which wraps to about 33mm of label width (10.5mm multiplied by pi). Its total height is 51.8mm or 66.1mm depending on tank size, and part of that height is mouthpiece and thread.
The CCELL Listo presents a flat face of at most 22.3mm wide by 97.8mm tall, less its visible oil tank and mouthpiece. A label on a clear tank also hides the oil level, so decide whether the customer should see it.
Wrap label or box?
A wrap label suits a brand mark, a batch code and a short line of text. Full legal text rarely fits on a body this narrow at a readable size, so it normally goes on the box. For a nicotine product the health warning has to cover 30% of the front and back of the pack, which is a box job.
Materials that survive oil
Choose durable, oil-resistant label stock and test it with your own oil before ordering a run. Check the label for these points:
- Print stays sharp after contact with the oil and an alcohol wipe.
- The adhesive holds on glass and on the plastics in your chosen model.
- The edges do not lift on a curved 10.5mm body.
- Nothing covers the thread, the airflow openings or the mouthpiece seam.
- A batch code remains legible after handling.
Checklist before you print
Settle these points with your adviser before artwork is approved, because a reprint costs more than a delay:
- Confirm which product type you are selling and which rules follow from it.
- Confirm who the producer is, using the MHRA definition for nicotine products.
- Check every claim and image against the regulation 38 list of things packaging may not do.
- Leave a clear band for the batch code.
- Approve a printed proof on the real body or box, not only a screen render.
Label mistakes to avoid
- Copying warning text from a nicotine product onto a different product without advice.
- Printing taste claims, health claims or discount offers that regulation 38 lists for nicotine packaging.
- Wrapping the label across the mouthpiece seam, where it lifts first.
- Setting legal text too small to read on a 10.5mm body.
- Approving artwork from a screen render and not from a printed proof.
Where branding goes
Brand marks sit best on the broad face of the body or on the mouthpiece, and changing information sits on the box. Keep a clear band for a batch code on every pack. A ccell cart packaging design that leaves no room for a lot code is not production-ready, so the code belongs in the layout from the first draft.
Packaging and child resistance
Vape packaging in the UK must be designed around child resistance and the label together. For nicotine products, the government guidance says the product or its packaging must be child-resistant and tamper evident. A child-resistant pack has moving parts, closures and tabs, so labels must not cover or interfere with them.
A simple split keeps a pack readable. The front carries the brand and product name, the back carries the batch code and contact details, and the sides carry any warnings or instructions your adviser requires. For nicotine products the 30% warning rule overrides that layout on the front and back, so draw the warning first and fit everything else around it.
Our guide to child-resistant hardware and packaging for licensed brands covers the options. Freeze the hardware first, then draw the carton, because a dieline drawn for one body will not fit another. Upright inserts that hold cartridges vertical also reduce leak complaints, and they leave the label area clear.
Label, print or engrave?
Choose the method by how permanent and how detailed the mark needs to be. The table compares the three options.
| Method | Best for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Wrap label | Batch codes and short brand text | Can lift, smear or hide the oil level |
| Printed box | Legal text, warnings and instructions | Not on the device itself |
| Laser engraving | Permanent logo and micro text | Greyscale only, and small areas |
Laser engraving is a permanent mark, and it is available in the UK only. We engrave logos, batch marks and micro text on batteries, pods and selected all-in-ones, and we proof a small batch before a run.
Cartridge marks depend on the metal, so we confirm each one first. On product pages, a proof goes to your WhatsApp for approval before production, and the engraving add-on adds two days to delivery. Read our guide to laser engraving and private label hardware for artwork rules.
A worked layout for a filled cartridge
Take a 1ml TH2 EVOMAX cartridge in a printed box. The brand picks a mouthpiece colour or material for identity, and adds a small wrap label of about 30mm width carrying a batch code. The box carries the product name, contact details and any legal text your adviser requires.
If the design needs a permanent logo, ask us whether the cartridge metal allows an engraved mark. The label and box then change from batch to batch, while the logo stays fixed.
In practice, many brands engrave the permanent mark and put legal text on a label or box.
We supply authentic CCELL hardware only, intended for CBD use only and not for minors. To discuss engraving or a trade account, use the enquiry route on any product page. Free shipping applies over £80, so confirm at checkout.
FAQ
What must be on a vape label in the UK?
It depends on the product. For nicotine e-liquids, the TRPR require ingredients, nicotine content, a batch number, a child safety recommendation and a 30% health warning. CBD sold as a food follows food guidance, and empty hardware leaves the duty with the filler. This was correct at the time of writing, so take legal advice.
Do CBD vape cartridges need a label?
Any product you sell should be clearly labelled, but we found no official UK source setting a specific label for inhaled CBD cartridges. The Food Standards Agency guidance covers CBD as a food and refers to general food labelling law. Ask your legal adviser which regime applies to your product before printing.
Can I put my brand on CCELL cartridges?
Yes, brands commonly add their own mark to authentic CCELL hardware through mouthpiece options, laser engraving, labels and printed packaging. Under the MHRA definition, re-branding a nicotine product as your own makes you a producer with duties of its own. Cartridge engraving depends on the metal, so confirm each design with our team.
What size label fits a vape cartridge?
Measure the body, because sizes vary. A cartridge 10.5mm in diameter, such as the TH2 EVOMAX, wraps to about 33mm of label width, and usable height is less than the total height because of the mouthpiece and thread. Keep long legal text for the box and use the label for a mark and batch code.
Do vape labels need a nicotine warning?
Only for nicotine-containing products. Regulation 37 of the TRPR sets the warning text and a 30% coverage rule for the front and back of the pack. Our hardware is intended for CBD use only. Confirm your own product’s position with your legal adviser.
Is engraving better than a label?
For a permanent brand mark, usually yes, because engraving cannot peel, smear or hide the oil level. It is limited to greyscale marks and small areas, so it does not suit long legal text. Most brands combine an engraved logo with a printed box, and engraving is available in the UK only.
