HungryPanda Vendors Found Selling Illegal Vapes

HungryPanda, a major food delivery service, is under scrutiny after some of its listed vendors were found selling illegal vapes.

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Pick & Scroll News
June 01, 2025

HungryPanda, a major food delivery service, is under scrutiny after some of its listed vendors were found selling illegal vapes. This has raised concerns about gaps in the enforcement of Australia’s vaping laws. While recent regulations aim to limit vape access, users who switch the app language to Mandarin can still easily find nicotine products online, sometimes in just a few steps.


HungryPanda, which acquired Melbourne-based delivery service Easi, now serves 3.5 million customers in Australia and works with over 60,000 merchants. As of October 2024, federal laws allow therapeutic vape sales only through pharmacies. Despite this, illegal vape sales continue to flourish, especially on platforms with diverse user groups. Some sellers on HungryPanda reportedly use QR codes that connect customers to encrypted apps like WeChat to complete transactions.


One vape listed on the platform sells for around $36 for 6000 puffs, which is significantly cheaper than the $50 to $60 charged by licensed retailers. Authorities see prices like these as a sign that criminal groups are adapting faster than regulators can act. While there is no evidence that HungryPanda supports this activity, its platform is being used to sidestep laws designed to protect public health.


This type of digital workaround is becoming more common as illegal vape sales move from retail stores to more structured online operations. That shift makes enforcement more difficult, especially when platforms allow third-party vendors with limited monitoring.


Since the tougher regulations began in mid-2024, border authorities have seized over 8 million illegal vapes. Despite these efforts, gaps in digital enforcement continue to weaken progress.


Federal bodies such as the TGA are aware of these issues and have used their powers to remove illegal promotions, having taken down more than 8400 vape ads between January 2024 and May 2025. Although usage among young adults appears to be decreasing, the ease of online access raises doubts about whether enforcement can keep up with the shift to digital sales.