Nicotine blitz nets 1200 vapes from six SA businesses in four days

SA Health compliance officers have seized 1200 vapes from six business in a blitz on products suspected of illegally – and secretly – containing nicotine.

SA Health inspectors have seized more than 1200 vaping products valued at $36,000 suspected of illegally containing nicotine in just four days of an planned eight week blitz.

The seizures were from six of 18 businesses visited – inspectors took more than 300 products from one business alone.

The products were listed by the TGA as containing nicotine and SA Health will conduct its own tests before deciding on action ranging from cautions and fines of up to $10,000 to cancelling business licences.

Many vaping products do not list nicotine as an ingredient on the packaging, however, laboratory testing has confirmed nicotine is present in the majority of disposable vapes sold in Australia.

SA Health Protection and Licensing Services Executive Director Chris Lease, Health Minister Chris Picton, Chief Public Health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier and Sara Driver whose two teenage daughters became addicted to vapes. Picture: Brad Crouch

The blitz follows stringent new licence conditions making it clear that selling nicotine e-cigarettes is illegal and now require retailers to show proof that vaping products being sold are nicotine-free.

Retailers also need to provide information about their e-cigarette suppliers, importers or manufacturers, that will enable products to be traced.

SA Health compliance officers now are inspecting businesses that sell vapes including convenience stores, service stations, gift stores and supermarkets to check that licence holders are meeting the new conditions.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the number of the seizures was alarming, noting it was “high numbers from a relatively low number of retailers.”

“A number of retailers said they have changed products and are sending products back to suppliers, but clearly there are still some who are not doing the right things,” he said.

Mr Picton said vape products may contain more highly addictive nicotine than a cigarette and the issue is a major problem particularly among children.

“It means kids are becoming addicted quickly and it is hard to get off, we are concerned it is an emerging health emergency,” he said.

The new conditions are an interim measure, while the Federal Government works through its plans to stop the importation of non-prescription e-cigarettes and the banning of vapes in retail settings and single-use disposable vapes.

Acting chief public health officer Dr Chris Lease said some businesses are working to change their practices but the first four days of the blitz shows why the enforcement is needed.

“We are urging businesses to comply with new licence holder changes as we will be inspecting them throughout the eight weeks and the appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

“Businesses have been put on notice that it is illegal to sell any nicotine vaping products in South Australia unless you are the holder of a licence under the Controlled Substances Act such as a pharmacy and the purchaser is in possession of a valid prescription.”