A CAPALABA vape store has copped the Metro South region's first fine for advertising and displaying personal vaporiser products.
Metro South Health's Public Health Unit prosecuted Vape Central for advertising and displaying personal vaporiser products.
Under Queensland law, e-cigarettes, vape pens and other personal vaporiser devices and their components are subject to the same restrictions as tobacco products and must not be advertised or on display.
The matter was heard at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 14 and the company was ordered to pay $4500 plus court costs.
The prosecution was the first of its kind in the Metro South Health region, which covers areas including south Brisbane, Logan, Beaudesert and the Redlands.
Metro South Health's director of environmental health Greg Shillig said the Public Health Unit laid six charges against the company.
"Amendments to the law in 2014 saw personal vaporisers included as smoking products and therefore the same advertising and display restrictions apply for businesses selling these products," Mr Shillig said.
"Vape Central illegally advertised or displayed 201 parts of vaporisers and 56 connection products in-store where customers could easily access them.
"These products present a danger, as many electronic cigarette cartridges contain potentially harmful ingredients such as propylene glycol (a solvent to produce fog or smoke used in theatrical productions), polyester compounds, anti-freeze, or vegetable glycerine."
A spokesman for Vape Central said the company had taken the matter to court after being fined $1000 in December 2018 for displaying items including Vape Driptips, cotton and tweezers.
"Upon receiving a fine for displaying personal vaporizer products ... in the store, after much internal discussion and discussion with other industry figures, we elected to take the matter to court in hopes of gaining clarification not just for ourselves, but for our industry."
The spokesman said the company had hoped to learn why accessories to smoking like lighters and ashtrays were displayed in tobacconists but accessories to vaping could not be displayed in vape shops.
"None of our products contain nicotine, which is classed as a harmful poison."
He said commercially produced e-liquids were created using the highest grade vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and flavourings, all of which could be bought at grocery stores or were used in the production and preservation of food.
"We find it unfortunate that Queensland Health ... is trying to limit Queenslanders access to the worlds most popular and successful method of giving up combustible cigarettes."
Mr Shillig said Metro South Health hoped the successful prosecution and fine deterred other companies who supply smoking related products from displaying them illegally.
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