South Australia has intensified its crackdown on illegal vaping products with thousands of unlawful vapes being confiscated as part of a comprehensive enforcement strategy. The Albanese Government and the Malinauskas Government have combined their efforts, investing $16 million in a newly established taskforce aimed at targeting the distribution of these products.
Since July 1, 2024, over 3,500 vapes have been seized through the combined efforts of state enforcement officials following more than 200 inspections and numerous public tip-offs leading to various raids. The products, alongside illegal tobacco, seized in these operations are valued at roughly $680,000.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and SA Health Ministers Chris Picton and Andrea Michaels have expressed their concerns and detailed the ongoing measures being implemented to combat this issue. Minister Butler highlighted that this drive supports new Cancer Council research, which links vaping among teenagers to a potential inclination towards smoking.
Minister Butler said, “Our Government is keeping illegal vapes out of the hands of the next generation of young Australians.
“New research from the Cancer Council shows Australian teenagers who have vaped are five times more likely to try smoking.
“Alarmingly, 12-year-olds who had vaped were 29 times more likely to go on to try smoking than 12-year-olds who had not vaped.
Minister Picton called attention to the escalating vaping rates among young South Australians, stating that the percentage of 15 to 29-year-olds who vape almost doubled over the last year. Describing vapes as containing “huge amounts of nicotine and a cocktail of nasty chemicals,” Picton shared concerns from parents about the concerning levels of addiction affecting their children.
Minister Michaels reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing this significant public health threat by targeting not just the products themselves but also the criminals distributing them.
Minister Michaels said, “There are more raids being conducted in South Australia this week to crack down on these illegal operations and we will continue to do everything we can to stop these people.”
On a broader scale, the national crackdown continues at the borders and through online platforms. The TGA, part of the oversight mechanism, has issued 118 warnings to advertisers promoting vaping products unlawfully. More than 8,000 requests have also been made to digital platforms to remove prohibited advertisements, with 58 websites either already blocked or set to be blocked from public access due to non-compliance.
As part of the governmental efforts, the Business Surrender Scheme was also introduced allowing businesses to surrender vaping goods that were lawful until recently but became prohibited with the enforcement of the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act on July 1, 2024.
This ongoing commitment to eradicate the illegal vape market is supported at both the state and federal levels, aiming to significantly reduce the access of these harmful products to the younger population and decrease the associated health risks.
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