Push for Victoria to implement a licensing scheme that extends to both cigarettes and vapes

The Andrews government is under pressure to give Victoria Police more powers to beef up its enforcement of illegal vape sales.

Victoria is being urged to follow other states and adopt a licensing scheme for vape and tobacco sales to give police stronger powers to crack down on black market in the industry.

The Andrews government is currently sitting on an independent review of illegal tobacco sales, from the Commission of Better Regulation, and the Herald Sun understands the documents back requiring businesses to obtain a licence to sell tobacco products.

It comes after the Herald Sun last week revealed a litany of illegal vaping incidents at schools so serious they were reported to the education department, including many cases where police and ambulances were forced to attend.

Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare said the growing black market showed action was needed.

Victorian schools have reported a litany of incidents involving vapes. Picture: Mark Stewart

He called on the government to act on its report and implement a licensing scheme that extended to both cigarettes and vapes, allowed police to search illegal operators and hand out hefty fines.

“The current legislation effectively has the police hamstrung and while they are hamstrung the black market flourishes and continues to sell to kids and affects legitimate retailers,” he said.

“Victoria and Queensland are the only two states where there is an absence of any licensing framework,” he said.

“Most people in government, both federal and state, are very aware of the black market that exists for nicotine vaping products.

“There’s no regulation around governing those products in Australia so we don’t even know what’s in them.”

There are calls for Victoria to adopt a licensing scheme for vape and tobacco sales. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Foukkare said he was part of a working group in Queensland that advised on the issue, with their state government “well progressed” on laws paving the way for a licensing scheme.

“(That scheme) gives police and health officers the power to search the product, as well as the biggest fines that anyone’s ever seen in Australia,” he said.

“We call on the Andrews government to quickly work on creating an industry working group with the health and Police Minister, so that we can collaboratively work.”

The state government is currently assisting ways to beef up its enforcement over illegal vape sales.

“We are working to address the sale of illicit tobacco,” a spokeswoman said.

“The report and its recommendations are being given careful consideration.”

The Andrews government is being urged to form an industry working group with the health and Police Minister to curb illegal vape sales.

The Herald Sun has also uncovered social media accounts where teens openly brag about “making fast cash” by selling illegal vapes to students.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive Todd Harper said Quit and Cancer Council Victoria looked forward to the results of the Victorian State Government review.

“We welcome the opportunity for strengthened enforcement of existing laws around tobacco and vaping product sales in order to protect the health of the community, particularly our young people,” Mr Harper said.

“This week we released data from the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer showing 9 out of 10 Australians (87 per cent) agree that e-cigarettes should be carefully regulated to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.

“Quit and Cancer Councils across the country are calling for an import ban on all e-cigarettes products regardless of whether they contain nicotine.”