ADVERTISING and promoting e-cigarette products is now banned in South Australia to protect community members from potential harms, Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade says.
Building on laws enacted in March this year, it is now an offence to display e-cigarette products at the point of sale and sell e-cigarette products online.
Mr Wade said e-cigarette retailers have had a six-month transition period to make required changes to their business and will receive penalties for failing to comply with the regulations.
He said the new legislation aimed to limit pathways for young people to progress to both e-cigarette and tobacco smoking.
“Our children are impressionable and it is important they receive the right messages to make informed health and wellbeing choices as they mature towards adulthood,” he said.
Businesses will be fined up to $20,000 for a first offence and up to $40,000 for a subsequent offence.
Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia state director Marina Bowshall said the new laws would protect South Australians from the effects of smoking.
“While we do not know the full health effects of e-cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes generate an aerosol or vapour for inhalation which is potentially harmful,” Ms Bowshall said.
“This is an important public health measure to reduce the exposure to the effects of e-cigarettes and to bring South Australia in line with most other states and territories.
“This precautionary approach will protect the health of the community, including children, while still allowing adults to access these products and we will continue to monitor research into the health effects of e-cigarettes.”
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that allow the user to inhale nicotine or other chemicals in a vapour form, known as vaping.
The liquids used in e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, but also flavouring and substances such as heavy metals, organic compounds and cancer-causing chemicals.
In South Australia, it is an offence to sell or supply e-cigarettes to a person under the age of 18 years, use e-cigarettes in a public smoke-free area and provide free samples, prizes, or gifts relating to e-cigarettes.
