Vicky Sheppeard, from the public health unit at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, said the spot checks were prompted by a rise in vaping among high school students, which she said had increased significantly in 2021. “We are speaking with principals who are very aware and concerned that there are growing numbers of young people vaping.”
“Unfortunately we understand that, while the use does increase with age, it is not limited to the younger students, and we have had reports of children in primary school vaping,” added Sheppeard.
Earlier this year, a TGA spokeswoman explained that such criminal offences may result in civil penalties and fines “up to 5,000 penalty units for an individual – up to $1,110,000 – and 50,000 penalty units for a corporation – up to $11,100,000”.
Further product standards released
Meanwhile, the TGA is also expected to release new regulations with regards to quality standards’ such as regulations specifying that the products must not contain any active ingredients other than nicotine, and also detail set labelling and packaging rules, including warnings to keep the goods out of reach of children.
“The TGA will revise the list in Schedule 1 to TGO 110 if and when more evidence becomes available showing that other ingredients used in nicotine vaping products carry demonstrable health risks associated with inhalation,” added the TGA spokeswoman.
