Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration Seizes 40,000 E-cigarettes Worth A$1.2 Million
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Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration seizes 40,000 e-cigarettes worth A$1.2 million
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has seized more than 40,000 vaping products with an estimated market value of more than A$1.2 million from a warehouse and property in Brisbane.
According to Australian media reports on September 1, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) executed multiple search warrants on August 29 as part of an ongoing investigation to crack down on illicit tobacco sales. More than 40,000 vaping products with an estimated market value of more than $1.2 million have been seized from a warehouse and property in Brisbane.
The seized products were allegedly designed to be prescribed medicines but were not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
These products will be tested in the TGA laboratory for regulated and other dangerous ingredients under the scheme. The TGA statement said: "Nicotine e-cigarette products imported or supplied not in accordance with TGA-approved routes pose a significant public health risk, and many products were found to contain dangerous, undeclared chemicals after testing in TGA laboratories."
The massive, multi-agency crackdown comes as the TGA continues its investigation into the importation of non-approved nicotine vaping products. While no charges have been laid at press time, the penalty for illegally importing or supplying an unapproved therapeutic commodity can be up to five years in jail and/or a fine of up to $1.25 million.
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler announced in May that strong measures would be taken to crack down on the supply of illicit vaping products. He said: "E-cigarettes are creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependence in our society, which poses a major threat to the success of tobacco control in Australia, and the Albany Government will not sit idly by. E-cigarettes have been promoted by governments and communities It’s a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit. It’s not meant to be an entertainment product, especially not one for our kids, but the reality is.”
The TGA encourages anyone who suspects a therapeutic product to be non-compliant to report illegal or questionable practices or advertisements that appear to be non-compliant to the TGA.
