Vaping and its impact

New Australian Federal Anit-Vaping legislation

Australia is about to introduce regulations in an attempt to minimise the harm created by Vaping.

The importation of disposable single use vapes would be banned from 1 January 2024, subject to very limited exceptions. The importation of all other vapes, irrespective of nicotine content or therapeutic claims, would be banned from 1 March 2024 unless certain conditions are complied with.

The first stage of Australia's new vaping reforms are set to commence on 1 January, with further protections in 2024.
 
These reforms will protect Australians, particularly young people, from the harms of vaping and nicotine dependence. All Australian Health Ministers have agreed to implement a nationally consistent and concerted response to vaping.
 
From 1 January 2024, the Government will implement a ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes. This is subject to legislative and administrative arrangements being approved, including by the Governor-General in Federal Executive Council.  
 
In parallel with this ban, a new Special Access Scheme pathway to prescribe vapes will commence on 1 January 2024, which will facilitate improved access to therapeutic vapes, whereby all medical practitioners and nurse practitioners will be able to prescribe their use where clinically appropriate.
 
From 1 March 2024, further changes are expected to commence, including the:

• cessation of the personal importation of vapes

• ban on the importation of non-therapeutic vapes

• requirement for therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration of their product’s compliance with the relevant product standards

• requirement for importers to obtain a licence and permit from the Australian Government’s Office of Drug Control before the products are imported.

During 2024, product standards for therapeutic vapes will also be strengthened, including to limit flavours, reduce permissible nicotine concentrations and require pharmaceutical packaging. A transition period will be allowed for businesses to comply with the new requirements. 
 
The Government will introduce legislation in 2024 to prevent domestic manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of non-therapeutic and disposable single use vapes to ensure comprehensive controls on vapes across all levels of the supply chain.
 
The vaping reforms were the focus of a joint meeting of all Australian Health and Police Ministers last week. At this important meeting, Ministers agreed to task officials with developing a national enforcement framework for vaping products – to stamp out unlawful vapes in the community and prevent illegal markets from emerging. It was agreed that a multi-agency National Vaping Working Group will be established to oversee development and implementation of the national enforcement framework.
 
This strong, comprehensive action, complemented by enhanced compliance and enforcement activity across all governments, will turn the tide against the rising use of vapes by young Australians.
 
We know that vapes pose a range of known and unknown risks to Australians, particularly among young people.
 
There is strong and consistent evidence that young Australians who vape are around 3 times more likely to take up tobacco smoking compared to young Australians who have never vaped.

Training package for clinicians to deal with vaping use and addiction in clients

NCD and Tobacco Consultancy will develop a training package to train staff in addressing vape use in Australia