Sydney companies fined after Border Force seizes 370,000 illegal vapes
Almost $600,000 in fines have been issued after vapes allegedly containing prohibited ingredients were seized at the border.
North Shore
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Four Sydney companies have been handed hefty fines after allegedly importing more than 370,000 illegal vapes.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued 38 infringement notices totalling $588,840 after 22 consignments containing vaping products were seized by the Australian Border Force.
The fines were issued to Sydney-based companies TSG Liverpool Street Pty Ltd, TSG Balmain Pty Ltd, TSG Chatswood Pty Ltd and Jaradat & Sabbagh Group Pty Ltd.
The TGA confirmed the items had been seized before being sold at any retail outlet in NSW.
TSG Liverpool Street received 19 infringement notices totalling $275,340 in fines.
Jaradat & Sabbagh Group received five infringement notices totalling $82,500, TSG Balmain received eight infringement notices totalling $132,000 and TSG Chatswood received six infringement notices totalling $99,000.
The TGA in a statement said the companies allegedly imported nicotine vaping products which were not registered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and did not comply with relevant standards. The vapes were tested at the TGA laboratories.
Results found they contained prohibited ingredients including benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and ethylene glycol.
The TGA in a statement said products which contain the prohibited ingredients posed a “significant public health risk”.
“The TGA said unregulated nicotine vaping products are a growing concern in the Australian community due to their availability and increased use, particularly among adolescents and young people,” a spokesman said.
“(They can have) associated health risks, including nicotine addiction, nicotine poisoning, exposure to toxins, and serious injuries and burns.”
The unapproved nicotine vaping products were seized by Border Force and will be destroyed under advice from the TGA.
Infringement notices have been issued to each of the four companies and are an opportunity for the company to pay a penalty as an alternative to having court proceedings being initiated against them.
This publication has contacted TSG head office and each company fined but did not receive a response.
The seizures come ahead of a planned crackdown on vaping announced by the federal government earlier this year.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the nationwide popularity of vaping has created a new generation of nicotine addicts.
“Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit. It was not sold as a recreational product – especially not one for our kids,” Mr Butler said.
“One in six teenagers aged 14-17 has vaped. One in four people aged 18-24 has vaped. By contrast, only one in 70 people my age has vaped.”
The government crackdown on the market includes a ban on recreational vaping, minimum quality standards introduced
The sale of vapes would also be restricted to pharmacies.
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