The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has welcomed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)’s announcement to prohibit the importation of e-cigarettes containing vaporiser nicotine and nicotine-containing refills unless on prescription from a doctor.

There are concerns about safety and long-term health effects of e-cigarettes, including on smoking uptake, and the College strongly supports the precautionary approach taken by the Australian Government.

The RACP advises that not smoking tobacco or using e-cigarettes remain the safest options for the community. 

For those seeking to quit smoking, the RACP advocates for the TGA approved smoking cessation products, including pharmacotherapies and counselling, ahead of vaping.

Vaping should only be prescribed as a last resort for patients seeking to quit smoking where other methods have failed.

The RACP supports the precautionary approach taken by the TGA.

The RACP's policy and position on e-cigarettes  can be found here: link. https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/policy-on-electronic-cigarettes.pdf