New Zealand shows us the way forward for tobacco harm reduction

New Zealand shows us the way forward for tobacco harm reduction

Legalise Vaping Australia, our nation’s largest grassroots advocacy body representing Aussie vapers and Aussie vape shops has once again called on Federal and State regulators to appropriately legalise and legislate vaping products in Australia. This comes after the New Zealand Ministry of Health released cabinet documents outlining how vaping products should be legislated and regulated.

“Once again when it comes to giving addicted smokers access to proven harm reduced alternatives such as vapes, New Zealand is miles ahead of us. All while 21,000 Australian smokers die each year thanks to our inaction” said Brian Marlow, Campaign Director for Legalise Vaping Australia.

“The proposed regulatory changes factor in the concerns members of the community may have about vaping, while still allowing this potentially life saving technology to exist in a risk proportionate regulatory framework. To see New Zealand take the appropriate steps to help smokers switch to vaping is fantastic. But seeing our Australian regulators sit on their hands and fail to embrace vaping is just absurd. Smokers are dying, and we have a responsibility to give them access to less harmful alternatives”

"While it is encouraging to see New Zealand regulating for nicotine, Australia is still waiting for regulation, with non-nicotine (as well as nicotine vaping) vaping in desperate need of regulatory guidelines. This comes as Australia's peak GP body, the RACGP recently threw its support behind vaping as a harm reduction tool."

Adding further weight to calls for regulation in Australia, Brian Marlow, Campaign Director for Legalise Vaping Australia said a Senate Petition that is calling for the regulation of vaping in Australia has had over 10,000 signatures. "The Senate Petition will likely be presented to the Australian Senate in coming months, and aims to allow vapers and smokers to finally be able to purchase products from Australia which will comply with the consumer protections and standards you deserve."

"Anybody with access to a computer and the internet can simply purchase nicotine from New Zealand, the US, the UK or Canada. Australia needs to regulate vaping, so Australians can have access to safe products that comply with Australian standards."