Australia will ban disposable vape imports from January 2024 to address rising nicotine addiction in young people.
New laws will be introduced to restrict the production, promotion, and distribution of single-use vapes across the country.
The ban is part of a broader initiative aimed at phasing out recreational vaping, challenging the perception that vaping serves as a smoking cessation aid.
Health Minister, Mark Butler, said vaping has given rise to a “new generation of nicotine dependency”, particularly among youth.
He emphasised the deceptive marketing tactics employed, telling a news conference, “These are the vapes that have pink unicorns on them, bubblegum flavoring, disguised in order for them to hide them in their pencil cases.”
Butler contends that these products are not therapeutic aids for smokers but intentional tools targeting children to fuel nicotine addiction.
Vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-powered devices containing nicotine-infused liquids alongside artificial flavorings and various chemicals.
While regulations have prohibited the purchase or import of e-cigarettes without a doctor’s prescription since 2021, addiction rates, especially among individuals aged 18 to 24, have continued to soar, with approximately one in five in this age group reported to vape, according to government data.
These stringent reforms aim to diminish the allure of vaping devices in response to mounting evidence indicating potential long-term harm.
Research from Johns Hopkins University has linked vaping to chronic lung disease and asthma, underlining the urgency of Australia’s proactive measures to safeguard public health.
