FEATURE
IMPORT BAN CLOSES AUS NIC LOOPHOLE
Prescription now the only route for Australian vapers .
Words : Gordon Stribling
Australia ’ s handling of the COVID-19
pandemic is the envy of much of the western world . There are under 29,000 cases at the time of writing and 909 deaths .
Compare that to the UK ’ s 4 million cases and 117,000 deaths and its clear to see that Australia ’ s strict lockdown , mass testing , border closures and sophisticated contract tracing have paid off .
But while Australia ’ s pandemic response is a lesson in world-leading public health , the same cannot be said of its approach to vaping .
From October 1 , Australian vapers will require a doctor ’ s prescription in order to import nicotine e-liquid . Nicotine liquids are already illegal to purchase without a valid prescription in most of the country , but vapers have got around the law by purchasing from other countries . doctors remain reluctant to prescribe . The Therapeutic Goods Agency said in a statement : “ Individuals attempting to import commercial quantities of nicotine e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine may be subject to importation and seizure of products and potential fines under existing regulation .”
Vapers will still be able to import vape devices from abroad after 28 Coalition MPs and senators signed a letter opposing the import ban .
Liberal senator , Hollie Hughes , said : “ After the TGA and Hunt announcements , it ’ s clear they ’ ve listened , reversed position on the regulation , and that ’ s no longer on the table .
“ We ’ ve gone from an attempt to restrict vaping to what is fundamentally the status quo [ on personal importation ] with a step to legalisation through a national prescription scheme .”
“ This decision is a major missed health opportunity .”
Aussie ’ s half a million vapers will have no choice but to go via the pharmacy prescription route but
Australia ’ s Therapeutic Goods Agency ( TGA ) believes that there is only ‘ limited ’ evidence that
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