‘Not f***ing leaving’: Bulk vape sellers prepare to go underground

Wholesale Australian vape suppliers are getting ready for anti-vaping laws to kick in, but the merchants insist they’re not going anywhere.

Bulk vape sellers prepare to go underground. Picture: Ian Currie

Wholesale Australian vape suppliers are preparing to go underground as federal anti-vaping reforms kick in, but the merchants are promising customers they’re not going away.

Some vendors are already warning customers that prices are about to increase and urging them to “stock up now”.

Others have taken to social media in defiance of the laws.

Single use or disposable vapes will be totally outlawed in Australia under a new overhaul. Picture: Ian Currie

The online wholesalers, which deal in mostly single-use or disposable vapes, will be impacted hardest by anti-smoking reforms, with the products earmarked for a total ban.

In an email newsletter to customers titled: “The Crackdown is REAL”, seen by news.com.au, one popular Sydney-based national supplier frantically emphasised, “arrests have been made”.

“Dear Valued Customer, I wanted to provide you with an update on the crackdown that is currently happening within our industry,” it reads.

“Recently, it was brought to our attention that one of our competitors was arrested due to the crackdown.

Australian vape suppliers are preparing to go underground.

“In light of this, these are now uncertain times that we are navigating through, and therefore I would urge you to stock up on your vape supplies whilst you still can.

“Additionally, we will also be increasing our prices due to supply and demand, therefore, NOW would be a good time to get your supplies at our best prices.”

It concluded by warning that price hikes were imminent.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration told news.com.au that it and the Australian Border Force have been “working closely” to find and evaluate nicotine vaping products being brought into the country, and infringements have been issued.

“All personal importations of nicotine vaping products must be supported by a prescription from an Australian medical practitioner at the time of import, and any unlawful imports may be seized,” the TGA said in a statement.

“Since May 1, 2023, over 118,976 nicotine vaping products have been determined to be non-compliant imports and certificates issued to facilitate their seizure under the Customs Act, with many more held by the Australian Border Force awaiting a determination.

“the TGA has issued 6 infringement notices totalling $15,984 in relation to unlawful imports of nicotine vaping products.”

On TikTok, where vape suppliers often advertise, creative videos have emerged reassuring customers they will not shut down amid the new laws.

One national supplier in late May posted a video that features Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort, from the Wolf of Wall Street.

The video is captioned: “When customers ask if we’re gunna stop selling due to the new vape laws”.

Some wholesale vape merchants are taking a more defiant stance.

“I’m not f***ing leaving!” screams DiCaprio during a scene from the iconic Scorsese film over pictures of the wholesale vapes.

Numerous others seen by news.com.au have poked fun at the laws but show no intention of closing up shop.

Vape vendors use TikTok as a tool for advertising.

“Puff puff, we’re still here,” another bulk vendor wrote on TikTok, sharing an image of a news article mentioning the ban.

The measures, which still need to pass parliament before becoming law, will ban the importation of non-prescription vaping products – including those that claim not to contain nicotine.

The government will introduce minimum quality standards for vapes, restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients, and vape products will need pharmaceutical-like packaging.

Nicotine concentrations and volumes will also be reduced, and all single-use, disposable vapes will be banned.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced new regulations last month in response to a comprehensive review conducted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding the use of vaping.

Minister for Health Mark Butler. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The review included consultations with various communities and health organisations and highlighted significant health risks associated with vaping, particularly among children.

Mr Butler emphasised that vaping was initially marketed globally as a therapeutic aid to assist long-term smokers in quitting but had transformed into a recreational product.

“It was not sold as a recreational product, and in particular, not one for our kids. That is what it has become: the biggest loophole, I think, in Australian healthcare history,” he said.

“Vaping has now become the number one behavioural issue in high schools, and it is becoming widespread in primary schools as well.

“Over the past 12 months, Victoria’s poisons hotline has taken 50 calls about children under the age of four ingesting vapes. Under the age of four.

“Vapes contain more than 200 chemicals that do not belong in the lungs. Some of the same chemicals you will find in nail polish remover and weed killer.”

Originally published as ‘Not f***ing leaving’: Bulk vape sellers prepare to go underground