CAPHRA calls for regulated access to e-cigarettes in Australia

According to a submission by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), just over 1% of people capable of writing nicotine scripts actually do so. Less than one-third of authorized prescribers are publicly available for adult smokers seeking to switch to nicotine e-cigarettes due to Australia's failed medicalized model.

CAPHRA has submitted a consultation paper to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia, discussing various options for legally obtaining electronic cigarettes and nicotine.

Australia remains the only Western democracy that requires a prescription for nicotine electronic cigarettes. The public consultation period regarding the proposed reform on the regulation of nicotine e-cigarette products in Australia began on November 30th and ended on January 16th, 2023.

Over the past decade, smoking rates in Australia have remained stable, particularly among vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Nancy Loucas, the executive coordinator of CAPHRA, stated that "electronic cigarettes are one of the most effective methods for smokers worldwide to quit smoking, and access to them at retail outlets should have been restricted long ago.

CAPHRA stated that several countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada, are currently utilizing electronic cigarettes and reduced harm products to influence the rapid decline in smoking prevalence in these countries.

Ms. Lucas stated that the most deadly product to the public, combustible tobacco, is still readily available at any ordinary retailer, which is a mockery of public health.

Australia needs to determine whether their nicotine policy decisions are based on science, evidence, and facts to promote and maintain the health of their population, or if they choose money over health regarding tobacco consumption taxes and other possible funding they may receive due to their severe policy, which has proven to be a failure, according to CAPHRA.

Australian politicians and officials may not like to hear it, but if they want to see success, they need only cross the Tasman Sea. New Zealand has adopted an active harm reduction approach towards tobacco, and in the past decade, with the implementation of the Smokefree 2025 goal, their overall smoking rate has halved. Now they aim to achieve a regular smoking rate of only 5% or less. "Ms Loucas said.

Similarly, CAPHRA wrote that if youth access is truly a concern for Australian policymakers, the only solution is proper regulation and imposing strict fines and license revocations for non-compliant retailers. New Zealand's 2020 e-cigarette legislation and subsequent regulations achieved this.

According to Ms. Loucas, New Zealand has an effective consumer framework. In fact, in the past year alone, over 150,000 New Zealanders have switched from deadly combustible products to safer nicotine alternatives.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) believes that a regulated consumer market will enable Australia to have necessary control over the quality and quantity of products sold by community retailers. It also allows for products to be restricted to adults only – similar to alcohol and combustible cigarettes.

The report points out that there is currently a prevalence of unregulated black market products in Australia, with no regulatory control over their content or access for individuals under the age of 18.

We, on behalf of our nine member organizations, have submitted a letter of objection to the consultation document advocating for the 'gateway theory.' Despite the document's claim of evidence that electronic cigarettes lead to youth smoking, the gateway theory has been both confirmed and questioned by numerous international research institutions. Ms. Loucas stated that electronic cigarettes are an exit from smoking, not an entrance.