Australia Implement a Comprehensive Ban on E-cigarettes

The Guardian has reported that Australia's drug regulator will Support a comprehensive import ban on e-cigarette products. Since the new research shows that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes than those who do not use e-cigarettes.

"We are determined to take strong action against the 'Explosive Growth' of illicit vaping."

This week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made recommendations to the government on changing the vaping laws to address rising vaping rates, particularly among young people. In addition, health institutions, including the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Cancer Council,  have joined in calling for a total ban on all unprescribed nicotine e-cigarettes.

In the TGA's consultation, which ended in January, TGA received about 4000 responses to reform proposals, including a total ban on the import of e-cigarette products without a prescription, whether or not they contain nicotine.

Strict laws on advertising are also expected to be introduced.

A report of the TGA's recommendations to government health authorities will be published by the end of the week.

Australia's federal health minister, Mark Butler, said, "smoking-related problems had exploded over the past few years, which were completely unacceptable."

He stated it was time for the government to take action. "We are determined to take strong action against the 'explosive growth' of illicit e-cigarettes," he said.

Butler also met with state and territory health ministers on February 24, who agreed to set up a national "e-cigarette working group" to review, provide advice, and take corresponding actions against the report submitted by TGA. The working group will focus on "addressing the growing popularity, appeal, and acceptance of vaping products," Butler said.

The TGA, the federal health department, and the Border Force are already working together before the TGA's advice is brought to the government.

Advice from Public Health Experts

The peer-reviewed study published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday evening, led by Australian National University public health physician Professor Emily Banks, found that young people using e-cigarettes are about three times more likely to smoke regular cigarettes than non-users.

Surveys show that although e-cigarettes can help some smokers quit smoking, most smokers who use e-cigarettes still maintain the habit of using cigarettes. Moreover, most young people who use e-cigarettes do not use them to quit smoking. "The evidence supports Australia's prescription-only model for e-cigarettes, which aims to avoid use in non-smokers and young people while targeting use for smokers seeking to quit," Banks said.

Research published in late February by public health professor Becky Freeman described how e-cigarette importers and retailers are "taking advantage of exemptions in the regulations for non-nicotine products, and nicotine-containing products are masquerading as non-nicotine products.'

Anita Dessaix, chair of the Cancer Council's public health committee, supports the initiative. She said most Australians (89%) do not smoke, and the vaping products are "unsafe and threaten Australia's hard-won tobacco control gains."

Opposition from Tobacco Companies

The proposed reforms of the Australian government have affected the interests of relevant tobacco companies. As a result, some e-cigarette and big tobacco companies have recently become actively promoting vaping use in bars, clubs, and restaurants.

Pro-vaping groups argue that the proposed import reforms will increase the black market in the country.

According to 2Firsts, the Australian National Party's Australian authorities want to relax the regulations on nicotine e-cigarettes, provide them as a tool to help adults quit smoking, and modify the relevant rules to make it more difficult for young people to obtain e-cigarette products at the same time.

Under National's proposed changes, the prescription model will be abandoned, favoring a new regulatory system in which nicotine e-cigarettes can be bought like regular cigarettes. Retailers will need a license to sell products, and there will be heavy fines for selling to minors. In addition, certain flavors will be banned, and health warnings will be added to the packaging.

National Party chairman David Littleproud said the current rules failed to stop young people from becoming addicted to vaping.

Health Minister Butler said the National Party has a ' blatant conflict of interest ' on this issue because they are the only major party still receiving donations from tobacco companies. According to the AEC Transparency Register, Fimo International has donated more than $ 240,000 to the Australian National Party since 2017.

According to the National Party 's proposal, any income generated by taxing e-cigarettes will be used for regional health care.

Reference:

Tighter import bans on e-cigarettes expected in bid to tackle ‘explosion in illegal vaping’

Nationals propose easing of vaping rules for adults, arguing it is a 'common sense approach'

Plan to sell vapes at supermarkets slammed as ‘dangerous’

Also read: 

Australia’s Latest Document on Vaping Will Cost More Australian Lives