Many UK merchants are eager to tap into the growing vape market online, but compliance remains a minefield. This guide breaks down the exact step-by-step compliance process for launching a legally sound Shopify vape store in the UK—from MHRA notification to packaging, payment gateways, and verification systems.
Step-by-Step Compliance Checklist for Shopify Vape Stores (UK 2025)
1. Notify Your Products with the MHRA
The MHRA, or Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, is the UK authority responsible for regulating e-cigarettes and vape products. If you plan to sell any vape products containing nicotine, you must notify each item through the MHRA before making it available for sale.
Here’s how:
- Register your business and product through the MHRA Submit portal
- Provide detailed information: emissions test results, ingredient breakdown, packaging and labeling files
- Pay the required £150 notification fee per product
- Observe a 6-month grace period before launching any new nicotine product
This process ensures public safety and allows the government to track what’s being sold online. Skipping MHRA notification can result in bans, penalties, or takedowns from both Shopify and payment gateways.
2. Use TRPR-Compliant Packaging
TRPR stands for the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which outline how vape products must be presented in the UK. Following these rules is non-negotiable for Shopify vape stores and is often checked during gateway approval or platform audits.
Your packaging must include:
- A clear front and back warning label that reads: "This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance."
- A tactile warning triangle (for the visually impaired)
- Child-resistant and tamper-evident packaging
- Neutral branding that avoids glamour, cartoons, or youth-targeted designs
If you import or white-label products, double-check that your packaging supplier meets these exact standards to avoid costly repackaging or removals."This product contains nicotine..."
- Child-resistant and tamper-evident design
- Tactile triangle for visually impaired users
- No glamorized or youth-oriented branding
3. Set Up Legal Age Verification
Selling vape products online without verifying a customer’s age is illegal in the UK. This is especially true for nicotine-based products, but also strongly advised for accessories and non-nicotine devices.
To comply:
- Install a trusted age verification app, such as AgeChecked or NA Age Verifier
- Offer age confirmation via date of birth, digital ID, or instant verification
- Display an age disclaimer across your website (homepage, footer, and product pages)
Some payment gateways and compliance platforms offer built-in age verification. Always ensure the solution doesn’t overly disrupt the checkout flow to maintain conversions.(AgeChecked, NA Age Verifier)
- Manual ID upload if needed
- Gateway-integrated checks for seamless UX
4. Use a High-Risk Friendly Payment Gateway
Shopify Payments, the default gateway on the platform, prohibits sales of vape and e-cigarette products due to their high-risk classification. Therefore, you’ll need to use a third-party processor that supports vape transactions in the UK.
Top choices include:
- Pay by Bank (Wallid): Chargeback-free, frictionless payments directly from customer bank accounts
- DigiPay: A traditional high-risk processor with experience in regulated verticals
- EasyPayDirect: Offers extensive risk mitigation tools, though setup is more technical
To get approved, you’ll likely need to submit:
- MHRA notification certificates
- Your refund, shipping, and privacy policies
- Proof of business registration (e.g., Companies House)
- Store screenshots or previews showing compliant language and design
Starting this process early prevents integration delays and account rejections.. Use:
- Pay by Bank (Wallid)
- DigiPay
- EasyPayDirect
Be ready to submit:
- MHRA certificates
- Refund policy
- Legal disclaimers
- Proof of UK business registration
5. Add Legal Policies & Notices
Your Shopify vape store must reflect full transparency about what you're selling and to whom. This includes clearly communicating age restrictions, legal disclaimers, and your commercial policies.
Ensure your store contains:
- A dedicated Refund Policy and Shipping Policy page
- Age restriction notices in the site header, footer, and each product description
- A disclaimer avoiding health claims or references like "safer than smoking"
These details help you pass merchant approval with payment gateways and create consumer trust—both legally and commercially.
- Age disclaimer in header, footer, and product pages
- No health claims in product descriptions
Vape Gateway Comparison Table
Conclusion
Setting up a compliant vape store on Shopify UK isn’t complicated—but it is detailed. From submitting MHRA notifications to setting up trusted age verification tools and high-risk payment gateways, each step ensures your store can run safely, legally, and without interruption.
If you're a new merchant in the vape space, don't cut corners. Use this guide to build your compliance foundation and earn long-term customer trust.
