Tobacco retailers on the Central Coast have been put on notice, with the State Government set to introduce a suite of new reforms to better protect the community from the harms of illegal tobacco.
Under the new reforms, a new tobacco licensing scheme will be introduced to better protect those businesses doing the right thing and ensure greater oversight of the tobacco retail industry in NSW.
Retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products will be required to hold a licence and pay an annual fee.
A licence will be able to be refused, or revoked, if the applicant has been convicted of a tobacco or vaping product related offence.
The scheme will support comprehensive and targeted enforcement to identify and penalise those retailers and wholesalers doing the wrong thing.
The proposed legislation will also double maximum penalties for a range of tobacco retailing offences, including individuals selling tobacco products to minors, who will face fines of up to $22,000 for a first offence and $110,000 for a subsequent offence, and for corporations, who will be liable for up to $110,000 for a first offence and $220,000 for subsequent offence.
NSW Health will also recruit 14 additional enforcement officers to strengthen compliance efforts across the state, doubling the number of authorised inspectors employed by the Ministry of Health.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said she was concerned at the rise of illegal tobacco across NSW.
“Like the community, I am concerned by the prevalence of illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes in our community, especially their proximity to our schools and children,” she said.
“We are introducing harsher penalties for retailers who are doing the wrong thing and boosting our team of enforcement officers to catch them.
“These new laws are the most significant tobacco retailing reforms in NSW in the last decade and will help us combat the scourge of illicit tobacco sales across the state.”
In 2023 NSW Health Inspectors conducted more than 3,000 inspections, seizing $13.7M worth of nicotine vapes and e-liquids, and more than 4.8 million cigarettes and 1,700kg of other illegal tobacco.
In the 2023/24 budget, $25M was invested in tobacco and e-cigarette control measures.
Tesch is encouraging community members who have concerns that a retailer has broken tobacco or e-cigarette related laws to make a report to NSW Health at 1300 066 055 or online
“New legislation and enforcement activities will help act as a deterrent, in response to growing concerns from our community,” she said.
“However, we need the community to continue to be the eyes and ears on the ground; if you see something that concerns you, I encourage you to make a report.
“Together, we can ensure the future health of our community.”
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