The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia had issued 38 infringement notices and imposed fines totalling AUD 588,840 against four importers of e-cigarettes for violating regulations.
The TGA laboratory has found prohibited substances in disposable e-cigarette samples from the brands IGET, GUNNPOD, and HQD, as per the therapeutic goods order for nicotine e-cigarette products (TGO 110) for 2021.
In response to the incident, 2FIRSTS promptly conducted an email interview with TGA. On June 21st, TGA Spokesperson replied to 2FIRSTS via email. TGA stated in their response that the disposable e-cigarette products IGET Bar, IGET Legend, GUNNPOD, and HQD were found to contain three prohibited ingredients: benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, and ethylene glycol. According to a search on the TGA official website, (Standard for Nicotine Vaping Products) (TGO 110) Order 2021 specifies the three ingredients are prohibited in e-cigarette products.
The following response is from a spokesperson for the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Please attribute the following response to a spokesperson the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
1.Is it possible to announce the prohibited ingredients contained in IGET, GUNPOD and HQD branded vapes referenced in the media release?
Testing conducted by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Laboratories identified the IGET Bar and IGET Legend disposable pod devices contained benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and ethylene glycol; Gunnpod disposable pod devices were found to contain benzaldehyde and ethylene glycol; and HQD disposable pod devices were found to contain benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and ethylene glycol.
2.Will there be other punishments for the enterprises named, such as arrests? Will the enterprises that produce and manufacture these products also be punished?
Infringement notices are one of the compliance tools the TGA can use when we believe that a requirement of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 has been breached. If an entity does not pay the infringement notice, the TGA may take further action such as formal court action.
The Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 regulates the import, export, supply, manufacture and supply of therapeutic goods within Australia. As the products subject to the infringement notices are manufactured outside of Australia, the manufacturers are not subject to Australian laws.
3.Will TGA strengthen supervision in the future?
On 2 May 2023, the Minister for Health and Aged Care announced that the Australian Government is taking strong action to combat the supply of unlawful vaping products. The TGA is working closely with state and territory governments and the Australian Border Force to introduce a comprehensive range of reforms, including:
- stopping the import of non-prescription vapes;
- increasing the minimum quality standards for vapes including by restricting flavours, colours, and other ingredients;
- requiring pharmaceutical-like packaging;
- reducing nicotine concentrations and volumes;
- banning all single use disposable vapes; and
- ending vape sales in convenience stores and other retail settings.
Note: The previously mentioned "GUNPOD" should be corrected to "GUNNPOD," as stated by TGA in their email reply.
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