vaping helps smokers quit and no evidence that vaping was less harmful than smoking .
The health ministry is also concerned about young people taking up vaping and smoking .
However , UK health and anti-smoking groups such as Public Health England ( PHE ) and Action on Smoking and Health ( ASH ) acknowledge that vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help smokers quit tobacco .
Brett Barclay of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores ( AACS ) said that the TGA ’ s ruling showed how out-of-step Australia is with vaping .
He said : “ Progressive nations around the world have regulated the legal sale of these products and are enjoying the health and economic benefits .
“ This decision is a major missed health opportunity . People looking for a safer alternative to smoking should be able to purchase safer products through responsible retailing channels . Instead , Australians are prevented from conveniently accessing such products .”
Australia has some of the most prohibitive anti-smoking policies in the world , including some of the highest tobacco taxes .
A pack of 20 cigarettes now costs an average of £ 19 following a 12.5 percent hike in September last year . However , the country remains very hostile towards vaping , which it has historically tied to Big Tobacco , rather than considering it an industry disruptor .
Along with the vaping curbs , health minister Greg Hunt revealed that the government would outlay at least AUS $ 1million on a stop smoking campaign , as well as develop a nationwide smoking cessation plan from April this year .
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