Australian Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is collaborating with states to implement new measures to curb the growing use of e-cigarettes.
Last week, on the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the tobacco plain packaging law by the Gillard government, Mr. Butler announced the commencement of a public consultation process by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on nicotine e-cigarette products in Australia.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking public feedback on four key areas: border control, pre-market TGA assessments, expanding the definition of nicotine e-cigarettes and regulating all related products, and implementing plain packaging similar to tobacco products.
Public consultation will remain open until January 16th next year. In that same month, Butler will meet with health ministers from each state and territory to discuss how to coordinate a solution to this issue. According to Vic Health data from this year, the number of Victorian adults who vape has almost doubled in the past four years, with those aged 18-30 accounting for the largest proportion of current users at 54%.
Todd Harper, the CEO of Cancer Council Victoria, has stated that 70% of users report purchasing e-cigarettes from brick and mortar stores, including tobacco shops, vape stores, and convenience stores. Concerns have been raised about e-cigarette supply to children, with many as young as 12 or 13 being exposed to the trend. Immediate measures need to be taken to prevent retailers from making mistakes and to address the issue of underage sales.
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