The AMA supports the federal government’s plans to toughen tobacco and vape regulations but believes that successive governments’ inability to tackle lax laws is a missed public health opportunity.
Mark Butler, Minister of Health and Aged Care, announced that a “patchwork quilt” of tobacco-related laws, legislation, tools, and legal precedents would be consolidated into a single parliamentary act. He also declared that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will indeed result in a public consultation on the existing vaping regulatory framework.
Professor Steve Robson, President of the Australian Medical Association, said the announcement really cannot come soon enough because nicotine smoking is still the number one cause of death cause of illness and death in Australia.
“The inability to tackle lax laws restricting the nicotine and vaping industries over the last decade was a missed opportunity in public health policy, that has formed the next generation of tobacco addicts,” Professor Robson said.
“It’s a truly horrible blemish on these person’s future health, and Australia can and must do better.”
“The American Medical Association is delighted to see several planned reforms to cigarette products, such as the removal of substances that make cigarettes more appealing, the removal of deceiving identities that suggest cigarettes are healthy, like “organic,” and the addition of a “smoking kills” text on every cigarette.”
The AMA also praised efforts to improve openness in tobacco companies’ marketing, promotion, and endorsement deals. The American Medical Association believes that all forms of public advertising and promotion of e-cigarette and tobacco products should be prohibited.
Professor Robson welcomed the TGA consultation, which will ascertain whether additional control of vapes is needed.
“We’ve long advocated for changes to vape regulatory frameworks and the prescription-only tobacco vaping device model.”
“Since the nicotine industry is largely invested in vaping and has tried to stymie electronic cigarette restrictions, it must not have any influence over public healthcare policy.”
“Solid reform is essential in this area, such as a ban on personally having to import such products into Australia and expelling elements that make such items so enticing to children, such as flavors and alluring packaging.”
The AMA is adamant about the release of the National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030 and collaborating with the TGA and the government to minimize adverse e-cigarette and tobacco use.
The AMA is advocating for the following steps to strengthen tobacco vaping product regulatory oversight:
- lowering the permissible levels from 100mg/ml to 20mg/ml, as well as imposing restrictions on the flavors and amount of tobacco that can be ordered or prescribed
- prohibiting the importation of tobacco vaping devices via the Personal Importation Scheme
- incorporating Tobacco Vaping Items into Real-Time Prescription Monitoring Systems
- limiting the utilization of Medicare smoking cessation products to a patient’s regular doctor, in accordance with previous AMA advice
