Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has made a last-minute decision to delay the ban on the import of nicotine-based e-cigarettes until the beginning of next year.
Key points:
- Anyone in breach of the ban could face a fine of up to $222,000
- The Health Minister has said the ban is a measure to prevent non-smokers becoming addicted to nicotine
- But in a statement today, Greg Hunt said there "was a group of people who have used these e-cigarettes with nicotine … to end their cigarette smoking"
The minister faced an industry campaign and coordinated pressure from some members of his backbench in response to his plans to implement a ban from this Wednesday, July 1.
Under the prohibition, the import of vaporiser nicotine and e-cigarettes would only be approved with a doctor's prescription. Those in breach of the ban could face a fine of up to $222,000.
E-cigarettes containing liquid nicotine, and nicotine vaporiser refills are already banned from sale within Australia.
Mr Hunt has reaffirmed his commitment to proceeding with the import restrictions, arguing it is a measure to prevent non-smokers from becoming addicted to nicotine.
He also pointed to figures from Victoria which showed a doubling in nicotine poisonings in that state between 2018 and 2019, to 41 cases, and the 2018 death of a toddler from nicotine poisoning.
But in a statement released this afternoon, Mr Hunt said there was a "group of people who have been using these e-cigarettes with nicotine as a means to ending their cigarette smoking".
"In order to assist this group in continuing to end that addiction we will therefore provide further time for implementation of the change by establishing a streamlined process for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP," the statement said.
"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."
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which has also been the key public health group consulting on Australia's response to the coronavirus pandemic, has warned of the dangers of vaping.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration website maintains evidence in the United States "suggests" vaping as a teenager can lead to the take-up of smoking.
Mr Hunt says across the globe there is "strong evidence of non-smokers being introduced to nicotine through vaping for the first time".
Vaping groups and backbench advocates welcome delay
But advocacy group Legalise Vaping Australia, whose representatives posted on Facebook today celebrating the decision with Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes, has argued that the sudden decision to implement the ban could have pushed people using e-cigarettes to smoke tobacco instead.
"Federal policymakers heard your voices causing the Health Minister to delay this deadly policy," Legalise Vaping Australia spokeswoman Emilie Dye said.
"We now have an opportunity to fight for the legalisation and regulation of nicotine vaping in Australia."
A group of government backbenchers raised concerns about the Health Minister's plan when it was first announced last week.
They included Queensland LNP senator Matt Canavan who said he was getting thousands of phone calls asking him to advocate for vapers.
"I welcome the decision and thank Minister Hunt for listening to the thousands of vapers that were concerned," Senator Canavan told the ABC tonight.
"I will work on their behalf in the months ahead to get a workable system established."
Senator Canavan has previously argued for the ban on the domestic production and sale of vaping products to be lifted so that the products could be produced and regulated under Australian law.
He has pointed to other developed countries like the United Kingdom where there are no legal restrictions on vaping.
Ahead of today's announcement, Mr Hunt was asked whether he thought the tobacco industry was influential in the push for a local industry.
"It's absolutely clear that behind the vaping industry is old tobacco," he responded during the week.
Earlier this year, Freedom of Information documents revealed international tobacco companies have sought meetings with the Prime Minister and leading cabinet members in an effort to overturn Australia's ban on nicotine vaping.
In the wake of Australia's plain packaging laws and the hikes in the tobacco excise, Australia's smoking rates have dropped over the past 20 years.
The smoking rate was more than 22 per cent in 2001 but by 2018 it had been reduced to 13.8 per cent.
Under Australian law, nicotine is classified as a poison, except when it is used as an aid to withdraw from tobacco smoking.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration will undertake a review of the poison's classification over the next six months.
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2020-06-26 15:22:27Z
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