No individual or company in Fiji is currently authorised to import or sell e-cigarettes (vape).
Maleli Baleiwera Nakulanikoro, the acting manager of the Health Ministry’s Tobacco Control Unit, said vapes circulating in the market were being sold illegally.
“In Fiji, at the moment, we haven’t registered anyone or any company to import and sell vape,” he said.
“So, all these vapes circulating around the market, they’re being sold illegally through social media platforms.”
Mr Nakulanikoro said this was a challenge the ministry currently faced, noting that drug suppliers in other countries were also using vapes to supply drugs.
“One lab in Singapore, they actually tested and found that those vapes do not only contain tobacco, they contain other drugs.
“So, all these new products that come to the general public also have a way of introducing drugs into the population.”
Mr Nakulanikoro said the ministry had plans to review the legislation which dealt with e-cigarettes.
“At the moment, we’re only focusing on those that import vapes for commercial purposes, but we don’t capture the minimum allowance for personal allocation.”
He said the fee for the permit to sell vapes was $153,333.33.
Mr Nakulanikoro said they were working with partners such as the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and the police to curb illegal sales of vape in Fiji.
“If someone wants to sell vape, there are provisions in the law under which you can apply for a licence. As long as you have the licence to import and register to sell vape, you can sell vape.”
