The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun Federal Court action against an online e-cigarette retailer for allegedly making false or misleading claims that its products are free from toxic chemicals found in regular cigarettes.
Independent testing of The Joystick Company's e-cigarette product found it contained toxic chemicals including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, the ACCC said.
The World Health Organisation classifies formaldehyde as carcinogenic, acetaldehyde as possibly carcinogenic and acrolein as a toxic chemical.
ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said suppliers had to have scientific evidence to support claims their products did not contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals.
"This is particularly important when, as here, products are designed to be inhaled and are being differentiated from conventional tobacco cigarettes because they are claimed not to contain toxic chemicals," she said.
The watchdog started legal action after Joystick failed to pay three fines on time for false or misleading representations.
Two other e-cigarette suppliers, Social-Lites and Elusion, have also had action brought against them this year by the ACCC for similar claims.
