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Tobacco reforms
This site provides information about Victoria's anti-tobacco strategy comprising the regulation of the sale and display of tobacco products and reduction of environmental tobacco smoke through legislation, as well as a range of tobacco education and smoking cessation interventions.
Tobacco retailers including premises with vending machines
From 1 January 2011, retailers selling tobacco are banned from displaying tobacco products. Tobacco products can not be visible from anywhere inside or outside a retail outlet. Tobacco products are also banned from being displayed on vending machines.
Tobacco retailers fact sheet
An exemption applies to on-airport duty free shops and certified specialist tobacconists. For further information please refer to Information for certified specialist tobacconists.
Certified Specialist Tobacconist Fact Sheet
In August 2009, the Victorian Parliament passed the Tobacco Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2009 to amend Tobacco Act 1987. These amendments include:
- a ban on the display of tobacco products at point-of-sale with an exemption for certified 'specialist tobacconists'
- smoking bans in a motor vehicle if a person under the age of 18 years is present
- a ban on the sale of tobacco products from temporary outlets
- a power for the Minister for Health to ban the sale of certain tobacco products and packaging that appeal to young people
- amendments to penalties and enforcement provisions including:
- amending the definition of 'occupier'
- power for the Secretary of the Department of Health (formerly Department of Human Services) to request the names and addresses of persons supplied with tobacco in an electronic format
- increases to the maximum infringement penalties for a number of offences, and specific provisions for higher ‘body corporate’ offences.
These laws, with the exception of the point-of-sale tobacco display ban, commenced on 1 January 2010. The point-of-sale display law commenced on 1 January 2011. Fact sheets are available below.
A copy of the Tobacco Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2009 is available on the Victorian Legislation website.
Fact sheet: Ban on smoking in motor vehicles if a person under the age of 18 is present
Fact sheet: Ban on the sale of tobacco from temporary outlets
