Australian regulator reports paid infringement notices over alleged unlawful vape supply

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has reported that Suryam Energy Pty Ltd paid two infringement notices totalling A$39,600 after an investigation into alleged unlawful supply of vaping goods.

The regulator said it issued the notices in August 2026 after receiving public reports that vaping goods were being supplied at a service station operated by the New South Wales-based company in the Wandandian area. The notices were paid in full in September, according to the TGA’s 18 September announcement.

The case matters for UK readers because it shows how sharply national vape regimes now differ. Australia treats therapeutic vapes as pharmacy-controlled products, while the UK continues to regulate consumer nicotine vaping products through product notification, limits on tank and refill-container size, nicotine strength, labelling, packaging and ingredient rules. The comparison is useful, but the Australian enforcement action does not change UK law.

Different route from the UK

The TGA says general retailers in Australia, including convenience stores and service stations, cannot sell vaping goods, with therapeutic vapes available through participating pharmacies where clinically appropriate. That is much more restrictive than the current UK consumer-product framework.

In the UK, the MHRA guidance says nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers must meet requirements under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, including a 2ml tank limit, 10ml maximum nicotine-containing refill container, 20mg/ml maximum nicotine strength and prior notification before sale. Those rules sit alongside the separate ban on single-use vapes.

For adult smokers and vapers in Britain, the practical lesson is not to read an Australian enforcement case as UK consumer advice. It is a reminder that legal access, retail rules and enforcement powers are country-specific, and that travellers should check the rules before carrying or buying vaping products abroad.