Retail tobacco and e-cigarette licence

As of 31 March 2019, the sale and supply of e-cigarette products is regulated under the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997. For more information go to the Smoking, the rules and regulations page.

In order to sell tobacco and e-cigarette products by retail within South Australia, a person must hold a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence under Part 6 of the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997. All applications for licences will be assessed prior to any licence being issued. Circumstances that may prevent a licence being issued (or renewed) could include factors such as:

  • primary client/customer base being minors under 18 years of age
  • compliance history
  • ability to comply with other related requirements (such as enclosed area laws).

Conditions of holding a licence

Holders of a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant's Licence must adhere to the relevant sections of the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997, the Tobacco and E-cigarettes Products Regulations 2019 and the licence conditions. The conditions for holding a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant's Licence include, but not limited to:

  • one licence per outlet
  • display of the Licence and Prescribed Sign
  • the number of points of sale where tobacco and e-cigarette products can be sold from is limited
  • restrictions apply for temporary stalls

For more detailed information on these conditions, see Requirements for licensed tobacco premises page.

Apply, renew or transfer a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence
All forms regarding tobacco licencing are to be submitted by:

  • email - Public.Health@sa.gov.au
  • postal address - Health Protection & Licensing Services, PO Box 6, Rundle Mall, SA 5000

Note: Credit card payments are not accepted

Applying for a new licence

To register for a new Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Merchant’s Licence, please complete the Application form (PDF 120KB) and submit to SA Health's Health Protection & Licensing Services.

Note: It takes approximately 14 days to process a licence, but may vary depending on circumstances relating to the application or business.

Once approved, a Tax Invoice for the current annual fee of $297.00 will be posted to you. The methods of payment are provided on the Tax Invoice.

Upon receipt of the payment, a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence will be posted to you.

Renewal of existing licence

A Tax Invoice for renewal of a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence will be sent to licence holders approximately 45 days prior to the expiry of the current licence.

Transfer of ownership

To transfer ownership of an existing Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence,  please complete the Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence Transfer of Ownership (PDF 94KB) and submit to SA Health's Health Protection & Licensing Services.

There is no fee to transfer ownership of a Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence

Updating information

If the details of your existing Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licence have changed, please contact SA Health's Health Protection & Licensing Services on (08) 8226 7100.

Further information

For further information on Retail Tobacco and E-Cigarette Merchant’s Licensing, contact SA Health's Health Protection & Licensing Services on (08) 8226 7100.