TGA seizes 70,000 vapes in NSW
On 28 September 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) executed warrants on two storage units in Sydney and seized more than 70,000 vaping products with an estimated street value in excess of $2.1 million.
The TGA warrants were executed as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged importation of unapproved nicotine vaping products. The seized products are alleged to be prescription medicines that were not included, or otherwise exempt from inclusion, in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
The Australian Border Force (ABF) supported the warrant activity and the TGA’s ongoing investigations.
The products will be tested at the TGA laboratories for scheduled and other dangerous ingredients. Nicotine vaping products that are not imported or supplied under a TGA-approved pathway pose a significant public health risk, with many tested by the TGA laboratories found to contain dangerous and undeclared chemicals.
Penalties for the illegal importation or supply of counterfeit or unapproved therapeutic goods is up to five years’ imprisonment and/or a financial penalty of up to $1.25 million.
On 2 May 2023, the Minister for Health and Aged Care announced that the Australian Government is taking strong action to combat the supply of unlawful vaping products. In August and September 2023, the TGA seized in excess of 130,000 vaping products from several premises across NSW and QLD with a combined street value of $3.9 million.
The TGA is continuing to work collaboratively with the ABF to disrupt the importation of unlawful nicotine vaping products.
Consumers are reminded that nicotine vaping products are a prescription-only medicine.
Appropriate treatment options involving prescription medicines should only be determined between a doctor and their patient in consultation. These products may not be right for you and those purchased illegally could be counterfeit or contain undeclared and hazardous active ingredients.
If you suspect non-compliance in relation to therapeutic goods, you can report illegal or questionable practices or suspected non-compliant advertising online to the TGA.
Contact for members of the media:
- Email: news@health.gov.au
- Phone: 02 6289 7400
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