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CNN 2 March 2023 (Edited -OB)
The Australian government will ban e-cigarettes through a heavy set of controls on imports and packaging to discourage vaping, especially among teens, under its biggest smoking reforms in more than a decade.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday said vaping has become a top behavioral issue in high schools and a growing problem in elementary schools but recognized the products have a therapeutic use under the right circumstances…
“Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit,” Butler said.
“It was not sold as a recreational product – in particular not one for our kids. But that is what it has become – the biggest loophole in Australian history.”
Announcing the new regulations, Butler said non-prescription vapes will be banned from importation, and vape products will be required to have pharmaceutical-like packaging, aimed at being sold as products to help smokers quit only.
Brightly colored, fun-flavored packs that lured younger users will be restricted, and all single-use and disposable vapes will be banned, Butler added.
Before the changes were announced Tuesday, the only legal way to sell a nicotine vape in Australia was through a prescription provided by a doctor to a pharmacy – but the products were still widely sold across the country.
A “black market” of convenience stores and gas stations selling the nicotine vapes without any labeling or warnings to minors have thrived under a lack of regulation and action, according to Butler.
“No more bubblegum flavors. No more pink unicorns. No more vapes deliberately disguised as highlighter pens for kids to be able to hide them in their pencil cases,” the health minister added.
Butler said. Australia’s tobacco tax will also be increased by 5% per year over the next three years starting on September 1.
(Australia already has high tobacco taxes along with a ban on all tobacco advertising and retail display. All tobacco products come in plain brown packaging with graphic photos of tobacco related medical problems..- OB)
More:
Australia to ban recreational vaping in major crackdown on e-cigarette black market | CNN
Vapes to be banned for recreational use, 'pharmaceutical' packaging to be required under crackdown - ABC News
Australia to ban recreational vaping in major crackdown on e-cigarettes as teen use soars
The Australian government will ban e-cigarettes through a heavy set of controls on imports and packaging to discourage vaping, especially among teens, under its biggest smoking reforms in more than a decade.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday said vaping has become a top behavioral issue in high schools and a growing problem in elementary schools but recognized the products have a therapeutic use under the right circumstances…
“Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit,” Butler said.
“It was not sold as a recreational product – in particular not one for our kids. But that is what it has become – the biggest loophole in Australian history.”
Announcing the new regulations, Butler said non-prescription vapes will be banned from importation, and vape products will be required to have pharmaceutical-like packaging, aimed at being sold as products to help smokers quit only.
Brightly colored, fun-flavored packs that lured younger users will be restricted, and all single-use and disposable vapes will be banned, Butler added.
Before the changes were announced Tuesday, the only legal way to sell a nicotine vape in Australia was through a prescription provided by a doctor to a pharmacy – but the products were still widely sold across the country.
A “black market” of convenience stores and gas stations selling the nicotine vapes without any labeling or warnings to minors have thrived under a lack of regulation and action, according to Butler.
“No more bubblegum flavors. No more pink unicorns. No more vapes deliberately disguised as highlighter pens for kids to be able to hide them in their pencil cases,” the health minister added.
Butler said. Australia’s tobacco tax will also be increased by 5% per year over the next three years starting on September 1.
(Australia already has high tobacco taxes along with a ban on all tobacco advertising and retail display. All tobacco products come in plain brown packaging with graphic photos of tobacco related medical problems..- OB)
More:
Australia to ban recreational vaping in major crackdown on e-cigarette black market | CNN
Vapes to be banned for recreational use, 'pharmaceutical' packaging to be required under crackdown - ABC News