Where your vapes are really made

One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies is behind an advocacy group campaigning for the Australian government to overhaul laws around nicotine vaping, which would make it easier to sell their products.

One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies is behind an advocacy group campaigning for the Australian government to overhaul laws around nicotine vaping, which would make it easier to sell their products.

One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies is behind an advocacy group campaigning for the Australian government to overhaul laws around nicotine vaping to make it easier to sell their products.

The Australian arm of British American Tobacco – makers of cigarette brands including Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Rothmans – has launched Responsible Vaping Australia (RVA) to push a “common sense approach” over the regulation of vapes and vaping products containing nicotine.

The website for RVA is collecting signatures for a petition and asks visitors to “add your voice to help legalise nicotine vaping in Australia” as well as encouraging them to write to their local member.

“The Australian Government made it illegal to purchase nicotine vaping products over the counter without a prescription in October 2021.

“Since then, a thriving black market has been created, run by illegal operators who will sell to anyone including children.

“Despite the prohibition, more than a million Australian adults are now vaping.”

There is a warning that the personal information collected and shared with “elected representatives and government agencies in connection with RVA initiatives”.

RVA lists its retail supporters as major tobacconists including Cignall, CTC, FreeChoice and King of The Pack.

It is understood RVA has not contacted the office of federal Health Minister Mark Butler and a Facebook page for the organisation went live on November 8. 

British American Tobacco sells a number of vaping products including the Vuze pen and a number of associated products including liquid nicotine and flavours. 

University of Sydney emeritus professor Simon Chapman, a longtime campaigner against cigarettes and tobacco, said the only concern of BAT was that young people were not purchasing their products.

“It‘s always fascinating to see a tobacco company whose mainstay products kill two in three long-term users and which has fought every tobacco control policy hard across the last 60 years feigning ‘concern’ for kids whose nicotine addiction is essential to their future profits,” he said.

Vapes and e-cigarettes, most of which are made offshore in China, can be purchased at convenience stores and tobacconists around the country.

Under laws introduced by the former Coalition government in October 2021, vapes containing nicotine can only be purchased by people with a prescription while all vapes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine, can only be sold to those over the age of 18.

Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association founding chairman Colin Mendelsohn said laws introduced by the former Coalition government had been a complete failure and said vaping was the most effective method for smokers to quit.

“The black market is rampant and selling to young people and of course the black market doesn’t recognise quality standards and it doesn’t recognise the age of sale,” said Dr Mendelsohn.

“The only way to eliminate the black market is to regulate the product and legalise it.”

The National Health and Medical Research Council advises that e-cigarettes can be harmful and while they may help smokers quit, there is insufficient research on the longterm health impacts of vaping.

Woolcock Institute respiratory physician Guy Marks said the main concern with vaping was that it would channel users back to cigarettes and said e-cigarettes were largely being used as an alternative to smoking instead of a quitting aid.

“Widespread use of vaping is mainly being seen in children and young adults who have never smoked so it‘s not being used for the intended purpose, which is smoking cessation,” said Professor Marks.

Professor Marks, who is president of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said vapes should only be available through smoking cessation clinics.

A spokesman for British American Tobacco Australia said RVA sought to support adult consumers, retailers and industry associations. 

"Our aim is to end the black market trade of nicotine vaping products and ensure Australian adult consumers are able to purchase products in a responsible and regulated way," he said.