A tougher regulation to protect people from the harmful effects of nitrous oxide (NO2) has been introduced today.
Under the new regulation, individual members of the public will no longer able to buy nitrous oxide for non-legitimate purposes.
The purchase of small 10-gram nitrous oxide canisters (often referred to as 'nangs') will only be accessible to:
- registered food businesses
- businesses with a liquor licence that prepare alcoholic drinks on-site
- educational and training institutions
- cooking school businesses.
Suppliers are required to collect evidence that nitrous oxide canisters are being sold to registered food or beverage businesses while buyers will need to provide evidence they are an approved recipient.
The new regulations will not impact medical use of nitrous oxide, which is already heavily regulated under WA law.
Anyone caught unlawfully selling nitrous oxide can get an on-the-spot penalty of $6,000 or up to $30,000 if convicted in court.
Recreational use and abuse of nitrous oxide poses significant health risks including permanent brain and spinal cord damage.
A public health campaign, aligned with the introduction of the new regulations, aims to raise awareness of the increasing harms of using nitrous oxide which can lead to devastating health issues including permanent brain and spinal cord damage.
The campaign also aims to educate suppliers and legitimate purchasers about the new regulations, how to comply and the penalties for breaching the rules.
