More than 30 tonnes of vapes which falsely claimed to be nicotine-free, have been seized by the Australian Border Force and the medical regulator.
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Over the past month, more than 400,000 individual vaping products have been seized in a joint campaign between the ABF and the Therapeutic Goods Administration targeting air cargo and international mail imports.
About 376,000 items, or 92 per cent of the seized goods, were illegal and at least 68 per cent were disposable vapes from brands that previously failed to meet minimum safety and quality standards.
The haul had an estimated street value of $11 million.
Health minister Mark Butler applauded the efforts of both government agencies but said this seizure was the "tip of the iceberg".
"The enormous volume of suspected unlawful vaping products seized in this campaign alone demonstrates the challenges we face in tackling this issue," he said on Tuesday.
In Australia, nicotine vape products must be imported through a TGA pathway but 85 per cent of the samples taken from the loot were found to contain nicotine and many were aimed at children.
"These aren't being sold or marketed to middle aged people who've been smoking for decades - they've got unicorns on them, they're pink, they're blue, they've got bubblegum flavour, they are so obviously targeted at our kids," Mr Butler told radio 2GB.
"This is a product sponsored by the tobacco industry because they know it's a way to recruit a new generation of nicotine addicts."
Vaping rates among young Australians have sky-rocketed with about one-in-six 14 to 17 year olds and a quarter of 18 to 24 year olds having used the products.
Mr Butler said the progress Australia had made to bring down its smoking rates could be lost if the government continued to allow vapes into the community.
"I'm not willing to raise the white flag," the minister said.
"I'm not pretending it's going to be easy but jurisdictions are willing to work together... to discuss how we can cooperate."
During the May budget, Mr Butler announced sweeping changes to stamp out recreational vaping among young Australians including $234 million for stronger regulations, a ban on all single-use vapes and an increased tobacco tax.
The government will announce further reforms to require licences and permits to import therapeutic vapes, to bolster advertising restrictions and to regulate all vapes.
Those who import through illegal means could face a five-year jail sentence and $1.25 million fine.
Australian Associated Press
