30 November 2022

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to reform Australia’s failing vaping regulation regime in a bid to address soaring rates of vaping among young Australians.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced the Federal Government will hold a public consultation process through the Therapeutic Goods Administration into how the current regulatory framework can be amended to reduce youth vaping rates and crackdown on e-cigarette black markets.

In addition, the Government announced 11 new anti-smoking measures, including standardising the size of tobacco packets and limiting the use of appealing names like “organic” or “light” on products.

RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small said “The Government’s push to strengthen e-cigarettes regulation is good news but requires urgent follow up action.

“Youth vaping is getting worse. Left unaddressed, we risk creating a new generation dependent on nicotine and establishing vaping as socially normative practice.”

“We look forward to participating in the upcoming public consultation through the TGA in order to help bring about evidence-based regulatory reform needed to address this issue.

“It is illegal to sell or supply e-nicotine products that contain nicotine in Australia without a doctor’s prescription. However, suppliers have been bypassing regulation by removing “nicotine” from its ingredients list.                                          

“We need to prevent youth from taking up vaping. We need stronger enforcement of existing legislation and a tightening of the importation schemes, restriction of promotion of vaping that appeals to children, especially online, and ensuring that vape packaging discloses all ingredients.

“Regulation and response must keep up with a fast-moving and innovative vaping industry. The Government’s public consultation process will provide a much-needed mechanism for fixing the regulatory approaches, which are currently not working.

“Access to nicotine e-cigarettes must be confined to smokers who are unable to quit via other means as the treatment option of last resort.

“Our regulation and response must keep up with a fast-moving and innovative vaping industry” Dr Small said.