CAPHRA urges Australia to open e-cigarette market

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling for the opening of the e-cigarette market in Australia. Following a discussion document on options for legally accessing e-cigarettes and nicotine, the organization has submitted a request to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia.

Only slightly more than 1% of people able to write nicotine scripts actually do so, and less than one-third of authorized prescribers are publically available for adult smokers looking to switch to nicotine e-cigarettes, according to CAPHRA's submission on the failed medicalization of nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia.

Australia remains the only Western democracy where a prescription is required to access nicotine e-cigarettes. A public consultation on the proposed regulation reform concerning nicotine e-cigarette products in Australia began on November 30, 2022 and ended on January 16, 2023.

Over the past decade, smoking rates in Australia have remained stable, particularly among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated that "electronic cigarettes are one of the most effective methods for smokers around the world to quit smoking, and restrictions on the retail channels of electronic cigarettes should have been implemented earlier.

CAPHRA stated that several countries, including the EU, UK, New Zealand, and Canada, are using e-cigarettes and harm reduction products to influence the rapid decline in smoking prevalence in these nations.

Ms. Lucas stated that the most deadly product for the public, combustible tobacco, can still be purchased at any ordinary retail store, which is a mockery of public health.

Australia must make a decision regarding its nicotine policy, based on scientific evidence and facts that promote and maintain the health of its citizens, or whether it prioritizes money over health through tobacco taxes and potential funding opportunities, as their current strict policies have proven to be ineffective, according to CAPHRA.

Australian politicians and officials may not be fond of hearing it, but if they want to see success, all they need to do is cross the Tasman Sea. New Zealand has actively adopted a harm reduction strategy for tobacco, and over the past decade, with the implementation of Smokefree 2025, their overall smoking rate has halved. Now, they are seeing 5% or less of regular smokers," said Ms. Loucas.

Similarly, according to CAPHRA, if youth access is truly a concern for Australian decision-makers, the only way to address the issue is through proper regulation, including severe fines and license revocation for non-compliant retailers. New Zealand's 2020 vaping legislation and subsequent regulations achieved this.

New Zealand has an effective consumer framework in place. In fact, in just the past year alone, over 150,000 New Zealanders have stopped using lethal combustibles and switched to safer nicotine products," said Ms. Loucas.

CAPHRA stated that it firmly 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 labeled as "adults only" with no distinction from alcohol and combustible cigarettes.

The article states that Australia is currently facing a proliferation of unregulated black market products, with no control or regulation over their content or accessibility to individuals below the age of 18.

We, on behalf of our nine-member organization, have submitted a response to the consultation paper objecting to the promotion of the 'gateway theory.' Despite claims made in the paper that there is evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes lead to youth smoking, the gateway theory has been both confirmed and challenged by many international research institutions. According to Ms. Lucas, e-cigarettes are an exit, not an entry, to smoking.

According to a statement released by CAPHRA, electronic cigarettes are 95% safer than traditional cigarettes. The organization believes that the use of e-cigarettes will help Australians quit smoking at a faster rate and that promoting their use will significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by combustible tobacco, which currently stands at 21,000 per year in Australia.