NSW Health has issued a warning to people selling nicotine e-cigarettes, also known as ‘vapes’, that they face fines of up to $1,100 per offence.
The warning follows the seizure of $450,000 worth of illegal product last year.
Assistant Director of Population Health Strategy and Performance at the Ministry of Health, Carolyn Murray said NSW Health inspectors had continued to target stores this year and seized more than 26,000 e-cigarettes and e-liquids either containing nicotine or labelled as such since January.
“Don’t be fooled by their aroma,” Ms Murray said.
“E-cigarettes are particularly dangerous to young people as most contain nicotine which is highly addictive as well as other toxic chemicals,” she said.
“In NSW, the sale of e-cigarettes that contain nicotine is illegal, as is the sale of any type of e-cigarette to children under 18 – regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not.”
Ms Murray said that despite the ban, NSW Health had seen an increase in the number of new e-cigarette products that contained nicotine being sold.
“Alarmingly, these items often look like innocuous household items such as lipsticks, highlighter pens, and even asthma puffers, making it easier for children and young people to use them in public,” the A/Director said.
She said NSW Health had undertaken 928 inspections of retail premises since liquid nicotine compliance activities commenced in late 2015.
