$6.8m illegal vape crackdown

now underway in NSW

A funding injection of $6.8 million from the Minns Labor Government is set to crack down on the sale of illegal vapes and increase support for vape-addicted young people.

18 October 2023

 

MEMBER for Gosford Liesl Tesch said funding to crack down on the sale of illegal vapes by the NSW Government is much-needed boost.

 

“Regulation is one step in the right direction, but this next action is a necessary step towards getting illegal vapes off the streets and helping young people understand the impacts of vaping,” Ms Tesch said.

 

An amount of $4.3 million over three years is assigned to bolstering compliance and enforcement, to ensure the state meets its responsibilities for retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical controls on vaping products.

 

A further $2.5 million is being invested in the next 12 months to increase services to help young vapers to quit. This includes a new digital platform, enhancements to the iCanQuit platform and an online learning module for youth services state-wide.

 

Alarming research from NSW Health has shown that non-smokers who use e-cigarettes or vapes are three times more likely to go on to smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes as people who have never vaped. The research also found that in young people, nicotine can cause changes to brain development, impaired learning and memory, and may worsen stress, depression and anxiety.

 

Ms Tesch said, “It is important to continue the fight against illegal vapes, particularly to protect children and young people from the dangers of vaping.”

 

From 1 January to 30 June 2023, NSW Health seized a record 187,000 products, up from 61,000 at the same time last year. Over 5,000 inspections have been conducted, with around 369,000 nicotine vapes and e-liquids seized, with an estimated street value of over $11.8 million.

 

During the week of 5 September 2023, when NSW Health undertook a targeted campaign to crack down on illicit vapes, 23,247 vaping devices were seized with a street value of over $695,000. There is a continued crackdown by NSW Health upon retailers who illegally sell nicotine vapes.

 

“It is pleasing to see the NSW Government is taking strong action to stamp out vaping – particularly among our young people – through stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support,” said Ms Tesch,

 

“I encourage concerned residents who suspect a tobacco or e-cigarette retailer is breaking the law, to lodge a complaint.”

 

Tobacco or e-cigarette (vape) complaints can be lodged at the NSW Health’s online complaints portal.

 

Helpful resources for young people who are vaping:

 

Vaping toolkit – www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping

 

Other resources - Vaping (Dovetail) and Webinar on e-cigarettes and vaping - Positive Choices.