On November 30, 2022, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) published an article on its official website, inviting the general public to provide suggestions and recommendations on reforming e-cigarette regulations.
According to an article by TGA:
This potential regulatory reform aims to prevent minors and children from being exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarette products, while also supporting "known ingredient, high-quality" e-cigarettes as a prescription tool for doctors to help adult smokers quit.
On January 1st, 2021, the Australian government reformed its regulation of electronic cigarettes, reclassifying nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as prescription drugs. However, more than a year after the reform was implemented, a significant number of young children continue to use e-cigarettes, and many adults are purchasing them through the black market rather than obtaining them through registered Australian physicians' prescriptions.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has invited public feedback on proposed reforms in four areas. These include easing border controls on nicotine e-cigarettes to curb black market supply, assessing pre-market for quality assurance, encouraging doctors to prescribe and pharmacies to supply regulated e-cigarette products, strengthening minimum quality and safety standards, and treating nicotine e-cigarettes as medicinal products to ensure effective regulation. The public consultation period will run until January 16, 2023, and interested parties can submit feedback through TGA's consultation center. After analyzing the feedback, the TGA will initiate any reforms in discussion with the government. There will be a transition period before the regulatory changes take effect.
Australia's stringent regulation of electronic cigarettes has led to a booming illegal market. According to The Australian newspaper, as of October 2022, the adult usage rate of e-cigarettes in Australia is 5.8%, with 88% of these users purchasing e-cigarettes through illegal channels. In the past five years, the number of e-cigarette users has skyrocketed by 259%.
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