Call for border clampdown on nicotine vapes

Calls for vapes to be stopped at border, with flavours and packagings restricted, as government finalises plans to stem youth vaping epidemic.

The TGA said there was strong support for banning flavours in a bid to stop children and adolescents being attracted to vapes.

States and territories have strongly supported proposals to tighten import controls on vapes, calling for border restrictions, import permits and the closure of the much-rorted personal importation scheme that allows people to bring large numbers of nicotine-laced vapes in to Australia.

Submissions from state and terri­tory governments were among 4000 made to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is inquiring into the explosion of vaping in Australia, much of it by children who accessing illegally imported and sold nicotine vapes.

Health bodies, researchers and companies marketing prescription vaping nicotine products also supported tightening border controls.

Vapers, vaping advocates and those who make money out of vapes, including retailers, manufacturers and importers, were opposed.

The TGA said there was strong support for banning flavours in a bid to stop children and adolescents being attracted to vapes sold in flavours including bubble-gum, fairy floss, watermelon and mango.

Dull pharmaceutical packaging was also favoured to replace bright neon colours and other designs, including pink unicorns, which vape manufacturers deploy to attract young vapers.

Millions of illegal nicotine vapes are being sold to children in Australia despite laws meant to restrict nicotine vapes to adults with a prescription for using them to quit smoking.

Health professional fear that instead of proving a pathway off cigarettes, vaping is providing a gateway to cigarettes for young people who may otherwise never have smoked, as well as being a health hazard in its own right.

Among groups making submissions to the TGA’s consultation, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia called for “the most powerful sanctions possible’’ to be applied to the importation and sale of vapes, as well as to their contents and packaging.

The Tasmanian government’s submission called for tough action, saying: “given the association between e-cigarette use and likelihood of cigarette smoking among never smokers, it is vital e-cigarettes are not ­allowed to reverse gains made in smoking prevalence and tobacco-related harm in Australia.’’

Master Grocers Australia, which represents thousands of small supermarket retailers, opposed bans, instead calling for vapes to be regulated in a similar way to cigarettes.

The group, whose position mirrors that of big tobacco companies, reported it received “tobacco company support in the form of corporate partnerships’’.

The group’s CEO, David Inall, said in his submission the current regulatory framework had created a “vast illegal black market trade’’ that was exploiting Australia’s youth and harming lawful businesses.

“Our members sell in excess of $2bn in tobacco products and we estimate our industry sector is losing circa $300m in legitimate tobacco sales every year,’’ he said. “To end the black-­market trade of NVPs, the Australian government must ensure adult consumers are able to purchase products in a responsible and regulated way.

“This means introducing clear laws for labelling, ingredient quality, youth access prevention and the responsible retailing of vaping products.’’

Prominent vaping advocate Colin Mendelson said vaping should be regulated “to optimise the net public health impact’’.

“The harm to young people from vaping is relatively minor and distant … but the potential benefit to adult smokers is substantial, immediate and can be life-saving,’’ he said.