Australia strongly bans electronic cigarettes

The Australian government aims to ban all disposable e-cigarettes (vapes), which are often fruit-flavoured, ban the import of over-the-counter vapes and limit nicotine levels, in a bid to curb the sale of vapes.

strong hand feeling electronic cigarette picture 1 — Australia takes strong action to ban e-cigarettes. Illustration photo: Reuters

“Just as they did with cigarettes, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation addicted to nicotine,” Health Minister Mark Butler said in a speech at the National Press Club.

Under the new rules, vapes will only be sold in pharmacies and require “pharmaceutical-grade” packaging.

Vaping, considered by many to be a safer alternative to smoking and helpful in helping smokers quit, involves heating a liquid containing nicotine and turning it into a vapor that the user inhales.

But studies have shown the potential for long-term harm from addictive e-cigarettes.

Mr Butler said vaping had become a recreational product in Australia, marketed primarily to teenagers and young adults, who were three times more likely to smoke.

“This is a product aimed at our kids, sold alongside candy and chocolate,” Butler said. “Vaping has become the number one behavioral problem in high schools. And it’s becoming more prevalent in elementary schools as well.”

Doctors are backing the campaign to control e-cigarettes and calling on governments to do more to limit the number of young people using them.

“E-cigarette products containing nicotine are being sold in colourful flavours and we have even seen products with the same type of imagery as children’s breakfast cereals including cartoon characters,” said Nicole Higgins, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Data last year showed about 22% of Australians aged 18 to 24 had used an e-cigarette or vaping device at least once.

While a prescription is required to buy nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in Australia, a thriving illicit market means they are readily available.

The federal budget, due to be released next week, will include A$234 million ($155 million) for measures to protect against harm caused by tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Australia previously had one of the strictest anti-smoking laws in the world .

Minister Butler said Australia had no plans to follow neighbouring New Zealand in banning tobacco sales to young people, but said tobacco taxes would rise by 5% a year over the next three years to curb sales.

Mai Van (according to Reuters, CNA)

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