Tobacco products and smoking implements display laws

Since September 2010 retail outlets in Western Australia have been prohibited from displaying tobacco products and smoking implements.

What does a display ban mean?

Tobacco retailers need to ensure that tobacco products, including individual packets and cartons as well as smoking implements cannot be seen by the public from inside or outside the premises.

Incidental viewing

The prohibition on display does not apply when tobacco products, including packages and smoking implements, are displayed to a customer at his or her direct request, including during the actual transaction or sale.

When retailers periodically restock their tobacco storage units there may be some unavoidable public viewing of tobacco products or smoking implements in this process.

It is Department of Health policy to allow such unavoidable viewing which may occur in connection with legitimate and responsibly conducted routine business practices (such as re-stocking shelves or stock-taking in public view).

However, retailers should ensure that doors or other coverings of storage units are not inadvertently left open after restocking as this may risk enforcement action.

Price tickets and price boards

Currently information about the availability or price of tobacco products can continue to be provided on price tickets and price boards.

What types of smoking implements are covered by the display ban?

The types of smoking implements covered by the display ban include:

• cigarette papers
• pipes
• cigarette holders
• rolling machines
• hookahs and water pipes intended for the use of smoking tobacco products
• any other smoking implements which may be used for smoking tobacco.

Matches and cigarette lighters are not smoking implements so are not covered by the display ban and may continue to be displayed.

How will the law be enforced?

The Department has a strong emphasis and focus on regular compliance monitoring and inspections, particularly in response to any new legislative requirements.

Inspections also occur in response to complaints from members of the public.

The Department uses a range of strategies to encourage and enhance compliance including the provision of:

• advice
• education
• formal warnings
• prosecution.

Translated information about the new display laws

Some information is also available in other languages.

Amharic – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 88KB)

Arabic – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 166KB)

Burmese – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 73KB)

Chinese Simplified – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 110KB)

Chinese Traditional – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 114KB)

Croatian – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 131KB)

Farsi – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 176KB)

Greek – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 190KB)

Indonesian – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 56KB)

Italian – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 84KB)

Korean – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 150KB)

Portugese – New display laws for retailers (PDF 87KB)

Spanish – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 54KB)

Swahili – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 55KB)

Thai – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 55KB)

Vietnamese – New display laws for all retailers – factsheet 1 (PDF 145KB)

More information

Tobacco Control Branch

• Phone: 9222 4222 
• Fax: 9382 0770
• Email: tcb@health.wa.gov.au
• Postal address (general):
  PO Box 8172
  Perth Business Centre 6849

For registration information on your tobacco sellers licence, or licences held by others, visit the Public Register of Tobacco Sellers Licences (external site).