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An electronic cigarette firm has begun a legal bid to challenge controversial EU laws which could see popular "vaping" devices banned from sale.

A British company called Totally Wicked will appear at the Court of Justice in Luxemberg today and call for e-cig legislation to be overturned before it comes into force in Britain next year.

Campaigners intend to challenge Article 20 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which would put strict limits on the sale of nicotine vaporising products.

Fraser Cropper, the Managing Director of Totally Wicked said: "Today is a historic day for vaping.

"The TPD imposes quite a lot of unnecessarily negative restrictions, including one meaning that the most popular and effective e-cigarettes on the market can no longer be sold."

Article 20 contains clauses which could limit the sale of refillable e-cigs, which are hugely popular among hardcore vaping aficionados.

Sales of these devices are thought to make up about half of the British e-cig market, but about 99% of Totally Wicked's sales.

This would force vapers to use prepackaged e-cigs, which sometimes do not have enough of a nicotine kick to keep hardcore addicts happy.

"Most heinous of all, higher strength nicotine solutions that are needed by heavy smokers to replace their smoking habit with vaping will not be allowed," Cropper told Mirror Online.

"Those that might get the most life-changing health benefits will be denied the opportunity."

(Image: PA)

Activists also said advertising would be banned and restrictions would be placed on e-commerce.

Totally Wicked was given the right to appeal against the laws after the High Court referred its case to the Court of Justice of the EU.

It believes the controversial Article 20 breaches European law.

Susan Garrett, a partner with Addleshaw Goddard LLP, added: "Totally Wicked believes that the Tobacco Products Directive is a misconceived and disproportionate attempt to regulate electronic cigarettes.

"We are pleased to be supporting Totally Wicked in pursuing this landmark challenge to the lawfulness of the Directive, and are delighted that our client has the opportunity to argue its case in Luxembourg."

(Image: Corbis)

A debate has been raging about the safety of electronic cigarettes, but it is widely assumed they are much less dangerous than tobacco.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The UK's High Court referred questions on the validity of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) raised by Totally Wicked to the European Court of Justice.

"A hearing is scheduled for 1 October and we expect a judgement early next year.

"In the meantime the UK Government will continue work to implement the TPD before the Directive's 20 May 2016 deadline."