New research from Cancer Council Victoria shows Australians back tougher regulation on vaping

AMA President Professor Steve Robson said the survey’s results, which showed almost 9 out of ten Australians want stronger regulation on vaping and vaping products, should provide further impetus for the federal government to tighten regulations.

“This research from the council’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, shows Australians are just as concerned about this issue as the AMA and want tougher regulation,” Professor Robson said.

“We have said very clearly to the federal government that Australia is at risk of losing the public health battle on vaping if strong action isn’t taken. Vaping is not harmless, it is not safe, it is not part of tobacco control.”

The AMA’s submission to the recent Therapeutic Goods Administration consultation on potential reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) called for changes to regulations to limit access to nicotine vaping products by banning the personal importation of them and reducing the allowed concentration of nicotine. 

“The Personal Importation Scheme bypasses many of the product standards contained in regulations, including labelling, packaging, and record-keeping requirements and it’s incredibly challenging to enforce,” Professor Robson said. 

While the TGA consultation focuses primarily on NVPs, the AMA supports introducing controls on the importation of all vaping products through customs.  

“This would begin to address the public health challenge of tackling both non-nicotine vapes and nicotine products. Nicotine and non-nicotine vaping products are regulated differently which complicates and hinders progress on this issue,” Professor Robson said. 

“Vaping products are a gateway to smoking for young people and there are significant risks from vaping that warrant much stronger regulation. For example, we know many products marketed as not containing nicotine have been found to contain nicotine and products have also been found to contain prohibited chemicals that can cause serious harm, like vitamin E acetate and diacetyl, which can cause serious damage to the lungs.”   

Professor Robson said the AMA agreed that stronger regulation was needed to curb the proliferation of recreational non-nicotine vaping products, including implementing similar regulation to tobacco products, such as health warnings, better labelling, plain packaging, and tobacco licences.   

“We also need a targeted federal response to monitor and act on illegal advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes — particularly online and on social media — and improved enforcement of existing state and territory regulation to help block illegal vape sales both online and through shopfronts.”  

Read the AMA’s recent submission to the TGA on vaping regulation