Release: Legalise Vaping Australia welcomes vaping regulation review
Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA), the voice of 1.1 million Australian adult vapers, welcomes Health Minister Mark Butler’s review of nicotine vaping regulations.
Announced yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has now opened public consultations to potential vaping reforms, aimed at preventing young people from accessing nicotine vaping products, while supporting access for adults who use these products for smoking cessation.
LVA Director, Brian Marlow says a rethink on Australia’s vaping regulations is a step in the right direction.
“The LVA has campaigned consistently for a common-sense approach to vaping regulations; one that recognises their reduced harm compared to cigarettes – 95% less harmful according to Public Health England – and their proven effectiveness in helping smokers quit.
“Australians know prescription nicotine vape laws haven’t worked. The previous Health Minister implemented a prescription-only model that forced adult vapers into a dangerous black market; a market that has reached into schools and is now placing the health of young people at risk.
“We are pleased the new government is acknowledging the failures of the prescription-model and is open to a rethink that creates better public health outcomes for all Australians.
“We particularly note that in its consultation paper the TGA acknowledged the recent findings of the Cochrane Review which states that there was high certainty that quit rates were higher in people randomized to NVP than in those randomized to NRT, translating to an additional 4 quitters per 100 using NVPs,” says Marlow.
The TGA review coincides with LVA’s latest campaign, Ditch the Script which urges this government to replicate vaping regulations that have been successful in other countries and make vaping accessible to the adult smokers who require them to quit smoking.
“I am encouraged by Minister Butler’s acknowledgement of New Zealand’s vaping laws as a world-leading example of successful vaping regulations. New Zealand’s legalisation of vaping supports adult smokers wishing to quit and creates effective protocols to stop children purchasing vapes. In the years since, smoking rates have hit all-time lows because they know vaping works.”
“It is critical that Australia follow in the footsteps of New Zealand, and not implement further restrictions which would only embolden the black market and hinder adult vapers from staying off cigarettes,” adds Mr Marlow.
Ditch the Script is the latest in LVA’s tireless campaign efforts in 2022 which have encouraged the government to review Australia’s prescription-only vaping regulations. Regulations which can help Australia’s 1.1 million adult vapers remain off cigarettes are vital.