According to a report by 7 News on November 14th, Australia is on the verge of implementing major tobacco packaging reforms. This comes over a decade after the country first adopted plain packaging, a global first.
According to the new regulations, health warning labels must be printed on each cigarette. This measure is modeled after Canada's approach. Canada began implementing similar laws last year, with local officials hoping further to alert smokers to the dangers of tobacco products. The Australian Department of Health and Ageing released a proposed new regulation on October 30th, with feedback collection ending on November 8th.
The new regulations aim to "improve public health by discouraging smoking and the use of regulated tobacco items", as well as encouraging existing users to give up their habit.
The proposed labels are:
- Toxic addiction
- Poisons in every puff
- Causes 16 cancers
- Damages your lungs
- Damages DNA
- Who is this harming?
- What is this costing you?
- Shortens your life
According to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the smoking rate continues to decline, with the proportion of Australians who have never smoked reaching 65%. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of vapes, rising from 11.3% in 2019 to 19.8% in 2022-2023. Currently, about half of e-cigarette users use them daily, which represents a 42% increase from 2019.
In 2012, the plain packaging requirement for tobacco products was implemented, which calls for standardized colors and health warnings on packaging. More than 20 countries have followed Australia's lead in implementing plain packaging for vapes.
Health Minister Mark Butler called for further action on using vapes earlier this year. He said: "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity and responsibility to act now, to safeguard the health of young Australians for generations to come."
