You will need a smoking product supply licence if you are a retailer or wholesaler of smoking products, you will be required to hold a from 1 September 2024. Without this licence you will be prohibited from supplying smoking products.
To avoid processing delays, you should apply as soon as possible.
Smoking products can include tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, loose smoking blend, shisha, smoking related products or a package or carton of any of these things.
Federal changes to the regulation of vapes commenced on 1 July 2024. Vapes can only be supplied through a pharmacy. Non-pharmacy retailers are not permitted to sell any vapes, including existing stock and nicotine-free vapes. If you are a vape supplier, but do not also sell smoking products related to tobacco, you should not apply for a licence.
There are 3 licence types available.
Retail licence
A retail licence authorises you to sell smoking products to the public from a retail premises or an online shop.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 premises, you must submit a separate application and hold a licence for each premises.
A single retail licence can include 1 premises and 1 connected online retail shop.
If you are a retailer wanting to sell limited quantities of smoking products by wholesale to other smaller licensed retailers, you must request the sub-wholesale condition when you apply for your retail licence. This condition is only available for a retail licence if retail sales are the primary activity of your licenced business.
Retail (liquor) licence
A retail (liquor) licence authorises you to sell smoking products to the public from a liquor licensed premises. Only a liquor licensee may apply for a retail (liquor) licence. A copy of your liquor licence for the premises is required as part of the application process.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 liquor licensed premises, you must apply and obtain a licence for each premises.
A retail (liquor) licence limits the supply of smoking products from the liquor licensed premises. Online supply of smoking products is not permitted.
Wholesale licence
A wholesale licence authorises you to sell smoking products by wholesale to licensed retailers from a wholesale premises or an online wholesale outlet.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 wholesale premises, you must submit a separate application and hold a licence for each premises. Where your wholesale premises has an online outlet for online sales connected to the wholesale premises, a single wholesale licence authorises you to sell smoking products from both.
