The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges two e-cigarette online retailers made false or misleading representations and engaged in misleading conduct by making statements on their websites that their e-cigarette products did not contain toxic chemicals.
The ACCC alleges that Social-Lites Pty Ltd and Elusion New Zealand Ltd breached the Australian Consumer Law by making representations on their websites from at least August 2015 that the e-cigarette products being sold did not contain carcinogens or toxic chemicals, and did not contain any of the chemicals found in conventional cigarettes.
Based on independent testing commissioned by the ACCC, the e-cigarette products sold by Social-Lites and Elusion did, in fact, contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals found in conventional cigarettes, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein.
“There is an increasing level of concern among international, national and state authorities regarding the composition of e-cigarettes, and the likely effects of their use,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said. “The ACCC will continue to work with its local and international counterparts to ensure consumers are receiving accurate information about these products.”