The Australian government has introduced a series of measures in an attempt to restrict the availability of vaping products.
These guidelines, which came into affect on 1 January, address the import, availability, advertising and sale of e-cigarette products.
The new measures include a ban on the importation of disposable, single-use vapes, regardless of nicotine content or therapeutic claims.
In addition, medical practitioners will be able to prescribe therapeutic vapes for help with smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
Further reform will take place from 1 March this year, which includes banning the importation of all non-therapeutic vapes.
These new vaping regulations target the legislation loopholes that permitted easy access of cheap, addictive, flavoured and harmful vaping products that are specifically marketed towards children.
Another phase of vaping reform, concerning the domestic manufacture and sales of vapes, is expected to take place later this year. This will include forbidding the retail sale of all vaping products regardless of nicotine content.
These new vape reforms aim to protect the Australian public – especially young people – against the increasing health risks and nicotine dependence caused by vaping.
‘Major public health issue’
Mark Butler MP is Australian minister for health and aged care. He said: ‘Vaping is creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependency in our community. It poses a major threat to Australia’s success in tobacco control and the Albanese Government is not going to stand by and let this happen.
‘Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit. It was not sold as a recreational product – especially not one targeted to our kids but that is what it has become.
‘All Australian governments are committed to working together to stop the disturbing growth in vaping among our young people. We’re taking tough action because this is a major public health issue.
‘The great majority of vapes contain nicotine and children are becoming addicted. Vaping is a gateway to smoking and smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. Smoking continues to kill approximately 20,000 Australians every year.
‘The government is alive to the implementation obstacles, like all other illegal drugs, there will no doubt be some vapes that get into the country but they will no longer be easy for school children, our most vulnerable and impressionable members of society, to get their hands on them.’
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