SEVERAL shops in St George and Sutherland Shire were found to be stocking banned synthetic drugs after a statewide blitz by Fair Trading last week.
Officers visited more than 20 shops in the region and found that some retailers still had products on sale or in stock.
Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts anno-unced on June 9 an interim ban on 19 named synthetic drugs, including cannabinoids and so-called "bath salts".
The ban follows the death of Henry Kwan, 17, who recently fell from his family's apartment balcony in a suspected synthetic drug-induced psychotic episode.
"These synthetic drugs have caused significant harmful and in some instances fatal side effects," Mr Roberts said.
"The time to act is now.
"Any delay compromises community safety and that is why we have determined this interim ban be immediately put in place.
"People will need to step up and realise that they are endangering themselves if they consume these products."
The ban is in place for up to 90 days and applies to the sale and supply of a list of named synthetic drugs that can cause significant harm and injury to consumers.
The list drugs can be found at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
To report retailers supplying synthetic drugs, call Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or the NSW Police Force.
INTERIM BAN
The federal government is imposing an interim national ban on 19 synthetic drugs after Sydney teenager Henry Kwan took an LSD-like drug and fell to his death.
The ban will prohibit the sale and supply of the drugs for 120 days, giving states and territories time to update their legislation and outlaw synthetic drugs.
‘‘Synthetic drugs are dangerous substances that can kill and should not be available for sale,’’ said Minister Assisting for Deregulation, David Bradbury.
He called on state and territory governments to undertake an urgent review of their drug laws to ensure synthetic drugs ‘‘are not falling through the cracks’’.
Henry Kwan was farewelled at a funeral in Sydney on Saturday.
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