Retailers and wholesalers of smoking products in Queensland must soon hold an approved licence to sell smoking products.
Applications are now open for retailers and wholesalers to apply for the licence before the new laws come into effect on 1 September 2024. From that date, anyone selling smoking products must have a licence and display an approved copy of the licence where these products are sold.
Theo Foukkare, CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), said AACS is committed to working collaboratively with authorities to ensure compliance while minimising disruptions to its members’ operations.
“As an association representing convenience store owners across Australia, we acknowledge the Queensland government’s decision to require retailers and wholesalers to obtain licenses for selling smoking products.
While we support efforts to regulate tobacco sales responsibly, we urge policymakers to consider the potential impact on small businesses.
As part of the state’s new laws, employees who are under 18 cannot sell or handle smoking products as part of their job. Businesses with less than 20 employees have until 1 September 2025 to meet this requirement.
There are several different licences available, including a retail licence, which allows retailers to sell smoking products to the public from a retail outlet or online shop. A retail licence also permits the sale of smoking products from one online shop associated with the retail outlet.
A retailer can also apply for a sub-wholesaling condition on their retail licence application, which will allow the retailer to sell limited quantities of smoking products by wholesale to other licensed venues.
Retailers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and no later than 31 May 2024. Early applications are also eligible for a discounted fee.
Businesses can visit Business Queensland to apply online for the licence. The portal provides all the information businesses will need to start the application.
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