The Australian government has announced plans to consider major reforms, which include tightening import regulations and strengthening e-cigarette labeling laws, in an effort to prevent usage among young people.
The Australian drug regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), is set to launch public consultations in four areas.
The government plans to amend import and border control laws to prevent illegal products from entering Australia. It will also introduce pre-market assessment for e-cigarettes and regulate their labeling, advertising, and flavors in order to deter children from using them. Additionally, the government will strengthen identification and regulation of nicotine-containing products. Health Minister Mark Butler has announced the ban of menthol cigarettes, as well as other flavored and additive tobaccos.
The public consultation on e-cigarette reform will remain open until January 16. Butler will meet with health ministers from all states and territories that same month to discuss how to coordinate a national response to e-cigarettes.
Butler announced the creation of new tobacco warning graphics, and the government will consider for the first time requiring warnings such as "Smoking is Harmful" on each individual cigarette, as well as changing the color of cigarettes to reduce their appeal.
He stated that the issue with appealing product names would be addressed by inserting health promotion inserts in every cigarette package and updating advertising regulations to include e-cigarette products.
Tobacco control expert and member of the Australian Smoking and Health Commission, Maurice Swanson, has praised Butler for taking an important step forward for public health and tobacco control in Australia. However, Swanson has urged Butler to urgently ban the import of all e-cigarettes, regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine.
The regulation will authorize border forces to confiscate all electronic cigarettes unless they are accompanied by a medical prescription as required by TGA regulations," he said.
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