October 03, 2024

Vape sellers flout law with heated tobacco

Adam Gifford Posted On October 3, 2024

An undercover sting by Vape-Free Kids has found stores around the country continuing to sell heated tobacco devices despite them being made illegal from October 1.

New regulations mean all vaping devices must have a removable battery and child safety mechanisms – which the Philip Morris IQOS heated tobacco devices don’t have.

The company removed the devices from its website last week, saying it was due to a regulatory change.

Vape-Free Kids co-founder Charyl Robinson says most retailers don’t even know if the highly addictive products they are selling are legal or not.

She says there are only two dozen smoke-free enforcement officers to police 8000 vape stores, and the number of outlets need to be cut drastically – as National promised during the election campaign.