The Australian Convenience Store Association is calling for stricter regulations regarding e-cigarettes, including licensing plans for retailers, while also hoping to crack down on nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.
The association stated that the black market for e-cigarettes is thriving following the introduction of a prescription-only model.
Last October, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) launched a prescription-only model for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in all states and territories.
Former Health Minister Greg Hunt stated in December 2020, "This decision will reduce the risk of teenagers becoming addicted to e-cigarettes." However, Ben Meredith, strategic and policy advisor for the Australian Convenience Store Association, has said that this decision has failed to keep the product out of the hands of young people, and more work needs to be done.
Mr. Meredith stated that the current regulatory regime is fueling a "rapidly growing black market.
If we continue down this path, it means that we are allowing young people to obtain these products through illegal retail or online channels," Meredith said.
The association has commissioned Roy Morgan to conduct research on electronic cigarette use in Australia as part of its push for stricter reforms. The research shows that electronic cigarette usage has grown by 259% over the past five years. The study also reveals that over 1.1 million people use electronic cigarettes in Australia and that 88% of these purchases are made through the illegal black market.
Mr. Meredith stated that this tells us that the implemented ban is not effective.
The Convenience Stores Association of Australia is calling for a national summit to address the issue and has proposed several measures, including implementing a national licensing scheme for all retailers of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes.
Mr. Meredith stated that convenience stores are also suffering from prescription shopping, as customers are choosing retailers who sell illegal products rather than those who follow the correct procedures. Of the 7,000 convenience stores represented by the association, 1,400 are located in Victoria, with 600 in remote areas of the state. "We need to protect them from being exploited by illegal retailers," Mr. Meredith said.
Consumers enter these stores solely because they sell nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, causing a 20% decrease in sales for some businesses in Victoria due to decreased foot traffic. This has had an impact on small businesses and the community, according to the speaker.
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