National vaping crackdown due in new year

FEDERAL Health Minister Mark Butler is working with state counterparts to implement new measures to curb an increase in vaping.

Speaking last week on the 10th anniversary of plain packaging laws for tobacco implemented by the Gillard government, Mr Butler announced the start of a public consultation process about nicotine vaping products from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The TGA is seeking public comment on four main areas: border control; pre-market TGA assessment; broadening the definition of nicotine vaping so that all products are regulated; and working towards plain packaging similar to tobacco.

“I’ve heard a very clear message from the public health sector, and from parents and school communities that these vapes that are marketed out there with pink unicorns, bubble gum flavours, fruit flavours – they are not being marketed to adults. That is clearly a marketing that’s pitched to young children and very young adolescents,” he said.
The public consultation is open until January 16 next year.

“And that same month in January, I’ll meet with health ministers from every state and territory to discuss how we can mount a coordinated response to this problem,” Mr Butler said.

Vic Health data this year showed the number of Victorian adults vaping has almost doubled in the past four years, and that people aged 18-30 made up the largest proportion of existing e-cigarette users at 54 per cent.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive officr Todd Harper said seven in 10 users reported purchasing the products from bricks and mortar stores including tobacconists, vape stores and milkbars.

“We know that the e-cigarette availability problem is magnified when it comes to children; many as young as 12 and 13 years old. The trends are worrying, and immediate action must be taken to prevent retailers from doing the wrong thing.”