CARRY ON VAPING
AT LEAST FOR NOW
Australian U-turn sees vape import ban delayed until 2021
Words: Patrick Griffin
An Australian import ban on nicotine-based e-cigarettes
has been postponed for six months after a furious
outcry from vape advocates across the country.
The ban was to have come into force from July 1 and carried
massive fines of up to AUD $222,000 (£110,000) but it has been
put back until January 1, 2021.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the ban was needed to prevent
non-smokers becoming addicted to nicotine but accepted that
there “was a group of people who have used these e-cigarettes
with nicotine … to end their cigarette smoking.”
Under the ban, the import of vaporiser nicotine and e-cigarettes
would only be approved with a doctor’s prescription.
E-cigarettes containing nicotine, and nicotine refills are already
banned from sale within Australia.
Mr Hunt said he had decided to provide additional time to
implement the change “by establishing a streamlined process
for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP.
“This will give patients time to talk with the GP, discuss the
best way to give up smoking, such as using other products
including patches or sprays, and if still required, will be able to
gain a prescription.”
Australian vaping groups welcomed the delay and said it was
now more urgent than ever to fight before the ban became law
in January. Advocacy group Legalise Vaping Australia said the
ban would push vapers back to smokers and insisted it needed
to be stopped.
Spokeswoman Emilie Dye said: “Federal policymakers heard our
voices causing the Health Minister to delay this deadly policy.
“We now have an opportunity to fight for the legalisation and
regulation of nicotine vaping in Australia.”
Queensland senator Matt Canavan said he had received
thousands of calls and emails from vapers who want the ban
overturned for good.
He said: “I believe we should have a safe and regulated market
without barriers that are more onerous than smokes, which after
all are much more dangerous.”
Under Australian law, nicotine is classified as a poison, except
when it is used as an aid to withdraw from tobacco smoking.
The ban was supported by the Royal Australia College of General
Practitioners, which said that vaping should be a “last resort” for
those trying to quit smoking.
“We now have an opportunity to fight
for the legalisation and regulation of
nicotine vaping in Australia.”
34 VM29