This year alone, police in the Australian state of New South Wales have already seized more than AU$1 million worth of illegal nicotine vaping products, which includes e-liquid and e-cigarette devices. That was as of May of this year.
Dr Kerry Chant, NSW’s chief health officer, said that the state is “cracking down on the illegal sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and liquids and taking a zero-tolerance approach to those who sell them.”
“We are cracking down on the illegal sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and liquids and taking a zero-tolerance approach to those who sell them.”
As of October 1, 2021, vaping products that contain nicotine are only available to Australians who are over the age of 18 and possess a valid prescription. Vaping products that contain nicotine can only be purchased through Australian pharmacies or imported from overseas companies. Despite all this, it appears some retailers in the country have been caught with vaping products that contain nicotine.
Dr Chant indicated that local authorities in NSW regularly conduct “raids on retailers across the state to protect young people from these harmful devices” while noting that those who break the law “will be caught” and any illegal vaping products “will be seized” by the authorities. Chant added that violators “could face prosecution, resulting in being fined or even jailed.”
The maximum penalty for illegally selling vaping products that contain nicotine is AU$1,650 per offense, six months in prison or both.
Meanwhile, cigarettes can be purchased over-the-counter from local retailers by anyone over the age of 18. Despite this, Dr Chant has claimed that the raids targeting the illegal sale of nicotine-containing vaping products are intended to “protect young people” from vaping products. According to the CDC, e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes.
