Tobacco, e-cigarettes and making a report
Council’s Environmental Health Officers conduct regular education visits with tobacco retailers to provide education and information to ensure compliance with the Tobacco Act 1987. The Tobacco Act:
- regulates the sale, advertising and display of tobacco products
- prohibits the sale of tobacco products to people under 18 years old
- regulates the advertising and display of tobacco products including no smoking and health warning signage
- bans smoking and vaping in enclosed workplaces, some outdoor areas including around hospitals, school and child care entries, playgrounds and under age sporting events
- regulates smoke free dining, including at outdoor events
- regulates the sale, advertising and use of shisha products.
Council also conducts a regular tobacco retailer test purchasing program to ensure tobacco retailers are not selling cigarettes to minors.
For more information on tobacco retailer requirements and smoke and vape free areas please visit the Victorian Department of Health website.
What if I witness a breach of the Tobacco Act?
If you observe breaches of the Tobacco Act laws above, you can make a report to Council for investigation.
You will be required to provide:
- Name of premises (if known)
- Address of premises
- Description of your concerns, including date of the occurrence
To make a report please call Community Health on 1300 88 22 33 or email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au.
Further information
New Victorian Tobacco Licensing Scheme
A new Victorian tobacco business licensing scheme commenced on 1 July 2025.
Tobacco retailers and wholesalers now need a licence to sell tobacco products in Victoria.
The scheme covers cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products designed for human consumption. E-cigarettes and vapes are not covered by the scheme as they are regulated by the Commonwealth government.
For more information on this licencing scheme visit the Victorian Government website.
Plain packaging of tobacco products
Tobacco products and packing are regulated in Australia. The retail packaging of tobacco products must (among other requirements):
- display the required health warnings
- not display logos, brand images or promotional text.
For further information on tobacco product requirements or to make a report visit the Department of Health, Disability and Aging website.
Illicit tobacco
Tobacco is illicit when it is grown, manufactured and/or produced in Australia or imported into the domestic market without customs duty being paid.
Illicit tobacco products may include:
- cigarettes
- cigars
- loose tobacco (also known as 'chop-chop')
- tobacco leaf and plant matter.
These products are illegal to sell in Australia. For further information or to make a report visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
E-cigarettes/Vapes
From 1 July 2024, the sale of e-cigarettes/vapes was banned and supply restricted to through pharmacies only for the purposes of helping people to quit or manage nicotine dependence. It is illegal for any other business to sell any type of e-cigarette/vape, regardless of nicotine content.
For further information on these Commonwealth laws, please visit the Department of Health, Disability and Aging website.
If you observe the sale of e-cigarettes/vapes, or suspect a retailer (that is not a pharmacy) to be selling e-cigarette/vape products, you can lodge a complaint to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).