Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration seizes 40,000 e-cigarettes worth AUD 1.2 million

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has seized more than 40,000 vaping products from a warehouse and property in Brisbane, with an estimated market value of more than AUD 1.2 million.

According to a September 1 report by Australian media, as part of an ongoing investigation into the sale of illegal tobacco products, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) executed multiple search warrants on August 29 and seized more than 40,000 e-cigarette products from a warehouse and property in Brisbane, with an estimated market value of more than AUD 1.2 million.

The seized products were allegedly presented as prescription medicines but were not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). 

The products will be tested in TGA laboratories to determine whether they contain scheduled substances and other hazardous ingredients. The TGA stated: “Nicotine e-cigarette products imported or supplied outside TGA-approved pathways pose a significant public health risk. Testing by TGA laboratories has found that many products contain dangerous, undeclared chemicals.” 

This large-scale cross-agency enforcement action comes as the TGA continues to investigate the importation of unapproved nicotine e-cigarette products. Although no charges had been filed as of press time, penalties for illegally importing or supplying unapproved therapeutic goods can be as high as five years’ imprisonment and/or fines of up to AUD 1.25 million. 

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler announced in May that strong measures would be taken against the supply of illegal e-cigarette products. He said: “Vaping is creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependence in our society, posing a major threat to Australia’s tobacco control success, and the Albanese government will not stand by and let it happen. E-cigarettes were marketed by governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit. They were never meant to be a recreational product, especially not one targeted at our children—but that is the reality.” 

The TGA encourages anyone who suspects non-compliance involving therapeutic goods to report illegal or suspicious practices or potentially non-compliant advertising to the TGA.

Reference:    

【1】 Therapeutic Goods Administration seizes 40,000 vaping products in Brisbane raid