Calls for all vaping sales to be banned in Australia unless a doctor prescribes them to help a patient quit smoking
- An expert wants to stop all import of vapes
- She said illegal vaping is labeled ‘nicotine-free’
One of Australia’s leading tobacco control experts has called for a complete ban on the sale of vapes – unless a doctor prescribes them to help a patient quit smoking.
University of Sydney associate professor Becky Freeman said only pharmacies are allowed to import vapes to Public Health Research and Practice, a peer-reviewed journal.
She said retailers, manufacturers and importers are falsely labeling nicotine vapes, which were banned in Australia at the end of 2021, as nicotine-free in order to sneak them onto the Australian market.
She believes the only way to rid Australia of addictive nicotine vaping is to ban the commercial sale of all vaping products.
prof. Freeman said the legal importation of nicotine-free vapes acted as a loophole for importers and said a complete ban on their imports – with the exception of pharmacies selling e-cigarettes to curb addiction – would protect young people.
Top tobacco control expert Professor Becky Freeman recommended banning imports of all vapes after discovering companies are using legal nicotine-free vape imports as a loophole to sneak in illegal vapes
She added that the reduced amount of nicotine vaping coming into Australia would make enforcement of existing laws easier.
Prof Freeman said the health department’s focus on Covid-19 has diverted from chronic disease prevention, with players in the tobacco, alcohol, gambling and fast food industries exploiting stagnant laws.
A recent survey found that one in three Australians between the ages of 14 and 17 have vaped.
Research shows that smoking e-cigarettes can cause poisoning, burns, lung damage and addiction.
Despite the fact that the number of adult smokers has halved in the last 20 years, smoking is still one of the leading causes of preventable death in Australia.
In November 2022, the federal government announced that it would crack down on tobacco with a wave of new measures and initiatives.
A recent survey found that one in three Australians aged 14-17 has vaped, despite research showing that smoking e-cigarettes can cause poisoning, lung damage and addiction
It is considering new graphic warnings on tobacco products, restrictions on flavors and menthol, and the obligation for tobacco companies to share information about their sales, prices, ingredients and advertising.
Health ministers also recently approved an updated National Tobacco Strategy, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration is considering new reforms to prevent children from accessing e-cigarettes.
The Queensland Parliament will be introduced to new legislation on Tuesday that seeks tougher enforcement of illicit nicotine products, creating more smoke-free areas and restricting the sale of tobacco in licensed locations.