The Australian government has announced a ban on all disposable vapes, a ban on non-prescription vapes as well as a limit to the nicotine levels contained in vapes, in a crackdown on what some have labeled a vaping ‘epidemic’.
Vapes, which were initially popularised as a way for smokers to quit smoking, have made inroads for mass recreational use among the youth.
Minister of Health, Mark Butler, gave the following response about the issue at a panel discussion: “Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts.”
The minister argued that vaping is the “number one behavioural issue”, with studies showing one in six Australians between the ages 14-17, and one in four in the ages 18-24, had vaped. It has also become an issue in primary schools. At the same time, in the last year, the poisons hotline for the state of Victoria had 50 calls about children under the age of four getting ill from using a vape.
Although Australia is known for being tough on smoking, their vaping laws have been rather lax. After an open inquiry into the use of vaping, the medicine regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), received widespread support for restricting imports from professional health bodies, university researchers, and public health associations.
The submissions made to TGA would ensure importers do not exploit the regulatory framework and prevent the false labeling of nicotine products as “nicotine-free”. Nicotine vapes are already subject to prescriptions, yet due to loopholes in the regulations many still obtain them.
Australia would join countries including Singapore and Thailand in their ban of recreational vaping.