November 19th 2024.
Changes to legislation in NSW could result in substantial fines for suppliers who are caught selling illegal vaping products. Under the new laws, offenders could face fines of up to $1 million, a significant increase from the previous fine of $1650. In addition, those convicted could also face up to seven years in prison.
The decision to introduce harsher penalties was announced by Health Minister Ryan Park, who expressed concern about the high prevalence of illegal vaping devices in the community, especially among young people. He also emphasized the government's commitment to tackling this public health issue.
Park stated, "We have a unique opportunity to address this problem and make a real difference in our community." He also added, "I am pleased to announce that we are taking further steps to remove these harmful devices from our streets by implementing stricter penalties for suppliers."
This news comes as the NSW Government revealed that over 300,000 vapes and vape-related products have been seized in the last year alone. The state has been cracking down on illegal vaping, with 362 inspections resulting in the seizure of 42,000 products from July to September this year. This is a significant decrease from the same period last year, where 153,000 products were seized from 290 inspections.
The decrease in the number of seized products could be attributed to disruptions in the supply chain, according to the state government. However, they remain committed to enforcing the new legislation and will also be adding additional offences, such as possessing a commercial quantity of vapes and possession of vaping products for retailers.
The government hopes that these stricter penalties will act as a deterrent and significantly reduce the availability of illegal vaping products in the community. With this new legislation in place, they believe they have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to combat this public health issue and create a safer environment for all.
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