New regulations announced for vaping products:
On the 2nd of May 2023, Federal Health Minister Hon. Mark Butler announced changes to vaping products and an investment of $737 million in the 2023-24 budget to fund measures to protect public health from tobacco and vaping. These measures aim to help address the significant threat to public health caused by recreational use of vaping products. The proposed new reforms will ban the importation of non-nicotine vaping products however, nicotine vaping products will still be accessible via a prescription for smoking cessation.
As of the 1st January 2024 the importation of disposable single use vapes has been banned. From the 1st March 2024 the importation of all non-therapeutic vapes will be banned.
GP’s can prescribe vapes as a tool for smoking cessation, available by prescription only through a pharmacy.
For help to quit vaping or smoking contact Quitline or call 137 848.
Learn more:
References
1 Wakefield, M., Haynes, A., Tabbakh, T., Scollo, M., Durkin, S. (2023). Current vaping and current smoking in the Australian population aged 14+ years: February 2018-March 2023. Report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
2 A Larcombe, S Allard, P Pringle, R Mead-Hunter, N Anderson, B Mullins. Chemical analysis of fresh and aged Australian e-cigarette. doi:10.5694/mja2.51280.
3 Banks E, Yazidjoglou A, Brown S, Nguyen M, Martin M, Beckwith K, Daluwatta A, Campbell S, Joshy G. Electronic cigarettes and health outcomes: systematic review of global evidence. Report for the Australian Department of Health. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Canberra: April 2022.
4National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023, About. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Published February 29, 2024. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey/contents/about