Enforcement of illicit tobacco and nicotine e-cigarette laws

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Reporting suspected breaches of tobacco retailing laws and sale of illegal vaping goods 

If you think someone is breaking tobacco retailing laws, including selling illicit tobacco or illegally selling vaping goods, please report this to 黑料吃瓜网 Health by completing the online reporting form or by calling the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412.

If you require further information, please call the Tobacco Information Line.

Non-English speaking people can contact the Tobacco Information Line via the translating and interpreting service (TIS) on 13 1450 to report breaches to the smoking bans and tobacco retailing laws.

Penalties for retailer鈥嬧赌嬧赌嬧€媠 

黑料吃瓜网 Health Inspectors visit retailers to check compliance with tobacco retailing laws. This includes checking if illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods or other illegal products containing nicotine are being sold.

Illegal vaping goods

It is illegal for retailers other than pharmacies (e.g. tobacconists, convenience stores, petrol stations) to sell any type of vaping good (vapes, e-cigarettes, e-liquids and e-cigarette accessories), regardless of its nicotine content.

There are strong new penalties in 黑料吃瓜网 for retailers illegally selling vaping goods.

Maximum penalties for illegally supplying vaping goods are up to 7 years imprisonment, a fine of $1.54 million, or both. 

Other illega鈥嬧€媗 nicotine products

黑料吃瓜网 Health can prosecute retailers for selling other illegal products that contain nicotine (such as nicotine pouches).鈥� The maximum penalty is a $1,650 fine, 6 months in prison, or both.

Tobacco retailing offences including sale of illicit tobacco

Penalties apply for a number of offences under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008. These offences include supplying tobacco without mandatory health warnings or in non-鈥媍ompliant packaging, failure to comply with display and advertising restrictions, and sale of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products to minors.

Maximum penalties for a range of tobacco retailing offences have been significantly increased, including selling tobacco not in the required packaging or without mandatory health warnings, which now carries a maximum penalty of up to $154,000 for individuals and $770,000 for corporations.鈥�

For further information see penalties and enforcement. 鈥�

 Illegal vaping goods seized鈥�

黑料吃瓜网 Health inspectors regularly visit retailers to check if illegal products are being sold. If these products are found in retailer premises, 黑料吃瓜网 Health inspectors seize and destroy the products. 

This table shows the quarterly data of illegal vaping goods鈥� and other illegal nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches), that have been seized by 黑料吃瓜网 Health.

Quarter Number of products seized
鈥�1 October - 31 December 2024
鈥�52,118
1 Jul鈥媦 鈥� 30 September 2024鈥�
49,678*鈥�
1 April - 30 June 202467,077*
1 January - 31 March 2024122,661*
1 October - 31 December 202382,837*
1 July - 30 September 2023
153,168鈥嬧赌�*
1 April - 30 June 2023100,629
1 January - 31 March 202395,551*
1 October - 31 December 202272,732*
1 July - 30 September 202250,543*
1 April - 30 June 202226,672*
1 January - 31 March 202234,825
1 October - 31 December 20219,587
1 July - 30 September 20217,677
1 April - 30 June 202134,865
1 January 鈥� 31 March 202124,067
1 October 鈥� 31 December 202018,900
1 July 鈥� 30 September 20206,554
1 April 鈥� 30 June 20201,801
1 January 鈥� 31 March 2020
2,866

*Data changes have been applied to provide the most up to date records for these time periods. The total number of seizures in each quarter includes ongoing investigations, which have inputs that may vary upon the investigation鈥檚 conclusion. Variations in new data are updated quarterly.鈥�

Prosecutions for illegal sales of nicotine containing e-cigarettes

This table lists the prosecutions for illegal sale of nicotine containing e-cigarettes and other nicotine products, following investigation and seizures by Authorised Officers in 黑料吃瓜网 Health. It shows the number of successful prosecutions in each quarter.

Quarter Number of successful prosecutions Local health districts business is located in
1 October - 31 December 20232
  • South Eastern Sydney
1 July - 30 September 20232
  • Far West
  • South Eastern Sydney
1 April - 30 June 20232
  • Illawarra Shoalhaven
  • South Eastern Sydney
1 January - 31 March 20230
1 October - 31 December 20223
  • Far West
  • Illawarra Shoalhaven
  • South Western Sydney
1 July - 30 September 20222
  • Central Coast
  • Northern Sydney
1 April - 30 June 20222South Eastern Sydney
1 January 2022 - 31 March 20225
  • South Eastern Sydney
  • South Western Sydney
  • Hunter New England
  • Central Coast
  • Sydney
1 October - 31 December 20211 South Eastern Sydney
1 July - 30 September 20211 Sydney
1 April - 30 June 20212
  • South Eastern Sydney
  • Northern Sydney
1 January 鈥� 31 March 20214
  • Northern Sydney
  • South Eastern Sydney
  • Sydney
1 October 鈥� 31 December 20201 South Eastern Sydney
1 July 鈥� 30 September 20204
  • Sydney
  • Northern Sydney
1 April 鈥� 30 June 20200
1 January - March 20203
  • Nepean Blue Mountains
  • North Sydney
  • Hunter New England

*Due to the timing of prosecutions and court procedures, final outcome data may be delayed and therefore will take longer to update the figures on the website.



Current as at: Tuesday 22 April 2025
Contact page owner: Centre for Population Health