Information for tobacco sellers

A valid tobacco licence is required to sell tobacco products in Western Australia. For information on how to apply for a licence visit Tobacco sellers licensing (health.wa.gov.au)

Are there any products that I can’t sell?

Tobacco sellers cannot sell the following products:

• E-cigarettes and e-cigarette components
• Nicotine pouches
• Any tobacco product that is not in Australian plain packaging
• Single cigarettes
• Fruit or confectionary flavoured cigarettes
• Packages of less than 20 cigarettes (including packages designed or capable of being split into two or more portions that contain fewer than 20 cigarettes)
• Any food, toy or other product that is not a tobacco product but is designed to resemble a tobacco product or package.

I sell tobacco. Can I display any tobacco products or smoking implements?

No. Tobacco sales units must be completely covered to ensure tobacco products, packaging and smoking implements cannot be seen by the public.

Smoking implements cannot be displayed by tobacco sellers. This includes the following:

• Cigarette papers
• Cigarette rolling machines
• Pipes (including water pipes)
• Any other thing used in the process of smoking a tobacco product or preparing a tobacco product for smoking.

Matches and cigarette lighters are exempt and can be displayed.

Retailers need to display mandatory signs. Retailers are given the signs with their licence. If you need a replacement sign please email TCC.Apply@health.wa.gov.au with your tobacco licence number and list the signage you need.

Retailers need to display the following:

• A current tobacco licence. This needs to be clearly visible at the place where tobacco products are sold at the premises.
• A warning sign about the purchase of tobacco products.
  This needs to be displayed above the height of the counter in a prominent position, at least 210 mm x 148mm in size.

If your business displays price information about tobacco products or smoking implements (price list, price tickets or price signs).

• A smoking graphic health warning sign (PDF 8MB) needs to be displayed as close as possible to the price information.
  The sign needs to be at least 297 mm x 210 mm in size.
• A Quitline sticker(JPG 32KB) needs to be displayed at the top of the price sign or price list.
  This needs to be at least 2cm high for a price sign, and at least 1cm high for a price list.

If your business displays additional price information about cigars

• A business that sells cigars in a cabinet may have an additional sign about the price or availability of cigars, either affixed or immediately adjacent to the cabinet.
  If this is the case a cigar graphic health warning sign (PDF 1MB) must be displayed next to the price information.
  The sign needs to be at least 297 mm by 210 mm, or in the case of a portable cabinet with a volume less than 50cm3, at least 105 mm x 74 mm.
• A Quitline sticker(JPG 32KB) needs to be displayed at the top of the sign.
  This needs to be at least 1cm high for a price sign, and at least 1cm high for a price list.

If your business sells tobacco from a vending machine (available at liquor licenced venues and mines amenities only).

• A smoking graphic health warning sign (PDF 8MB) needs to be displayed on the vending machine, clearly visible to a customer when purchasing a tobacco product.
  The sign needs to be at least 297 mm x 210 mm in size, or if the vending machine is too small for this, at least 210 mm by 148 mm in size.  

The tobacco retailer training package has been developed to support retailers in Western Australia to train and assess their staffs’ knowledge and understanding of the laws regarding the sale, supply and display of tobacco products and smoking implements in WA.

This training package should not be relied upon as a substitute for personal review of the legislation or independent legal advice.

It is recommended that tobacco retailers provide this information and conduct training with employees at least every six months.

• Staff Training package – Information for managers on how to use the training package (PDF 3.7MB)
• A guide for selling tobacco products in Western Australia – Education booklet for managers and staff (PDF 1MB)
• Staff training questionnaire – for managers and staff (PDF 854KB)
• Questionnaire answer sheet – for managers (PDF 874KB)
• Staff training acknowledgment form – for managers (PDF 877KB)

The Department of Health conducts tobacco compliance surveys to collect information about the supply of tobacco products to people under 18 years old. The results of these surveys are published here:

• 2022 Survey summary (PDF 864KB)
• 2020 Survey summary (PDF 864KB)
• 2017 Survey summary (PDF 864KB)
• 2015 Survey summary (PDF 171KB)

These surveys inform targeted compliance activities where a business may be fined if they sell tobacco to a person under 18 years old.