New national laws to strengthen controls on the importation, manufacture, and supply of all e-cigarette products are now in place.

All e-cigarettes & e-liquids (with and without nicotine) and e-cigarette accessories can now only be supplied by a pharmacist, medical practitioner, or nurse practitioner.

For more information visit the TGA Vaping Hub

Last updated: 06 August 2024

​Retailers must comply with the ban on the display of tobacco, non-tobacco smoking products, smoking accessories,    e-cigarettes and e-cigarette accessories under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008.

It is up to each retailer to make sure that tobacco, and e-cigarette products cannot be seen by members of the public from inside or outside the premises.

Note:

  • Please refer to Ban on display of tobacco, smoking and e-cigarette products in retail outlets​ fact sheet.for detailed information on the tobacco and e-cigarette products display ban, including frequently asked questions on common issues, such as restocking and accepting inventory.
  • When this fact sheet refers to tobacco and e-cigarette products it means all tobacco products, non-tobacco smoking products, smoking accessories, e-cigarettes and e-cigarette accessories.

There are many ways in which premises retailing tobacco and e-cigarette products may be configured. The images in this fact sheet do not represent a complete list of all possible compliant storage options. This fact sheet is intended to provide general information to retailers and is not legal advice. One option which suits one retailer may not suit another retailer. Choose a storage
arrangement that suits your business needs, but make sure that the arrangement meets the display ban requirements under the law.

Consider whether the storage arrangements presented in this fact sheet would be effective for your store layout, particularly whether customers would be exposed to tobacco or e-cigarette products in the store. Also consider how your employees’ use of the arrangements may lead to a risk of non-compliance. For example, if doors are left open by staff, the risk of non-compliance will be greater.

Smoking kills, Call the quitline 137848 0r 13 Quit  Retailers who store tobacco or e-cigarette products either above or below the sales counter must ensure that the products are covered up and not in the view of public. 
  Conceal the front of clear plastic or transparent shelves with an opaque cover os thta the entire facing of tobacco or e-cigarette products cannot be seen. 
 Tobacco or e-cigarette products or sheleves are concealed by an opaque flap up, drop down cover 
Drawers with an opaque flip up cover and drawer front 
Opaque fronted drawers 
Opaque fronted drawers inside cupboards ans spring loaded self closing doors 

Note : The cupboard doors in this arrangement are not mandatory, however stores may wish to utilise these for lockable storage of tobacco or e-cigarette products​.

The curtain on the front of the shelves can be lifted to remove a product abd should automatically drop back down once a product is selected, Smoking kills, Call the quitline 137848 0r 13 Quit 

Under Section 9 (1) of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008 the occupier of premises where tobacco and e-cigarette products are sold must ensure that members of the public cannot see any of these products, from inside or outside the premises.

This picture depicts the type of storage solutions which may be a suitable, low cost option for small businesses stocking a limited range of tobacco or e-cigarette products in a small sized display cabinet (3-5 shelves).

Proprietors utilising an arrangement of this type must note that:

  • The tobacco or e-cigarette products must only be visible to the customer for the moment when the staff member/sales assistant removes the packet from the shelf for a sale. Immediately after which, the covering must automatically return to a position which completely blocks the remaining tobacco or e-cigarette products from view.
  • Using these arrangements without appropriate staff training and strict monitoring by the proprietor may increase the risk of non-compliance with the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008 requirements, e.g. failing to close doors/drawers/flaps immediately after retrieving a tobacco or e-cigarette product for a customer.
  • Authorised inspectors will be regularly monitoring compliance with the display ban provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008.​​​

 

Current as at: Tuesday 6 August 2024
Contact page owner: Centre for Population Health