can reveal a law prohibiting the importation of nicotine e-cigarettes without a prescription has barely made a dent in Australia’s black market supply.The federal government’s ban, a signature policy of Health Minister Greg Hunt, bars the importation of nicotine vaping products unless there is a prescription for individuals or a state or territory wholesale pharmaceutical licence for businesses.
Of that, Border Force only destroyed 9.9 litres of liquid nicotine and 329 individual units of vaping products, while a further seven litres and 41 individual units of vaping products were sent off for testing. Disposable vaping products are often packaged to look like boxes of lollies, with bright colours, designs that disguise the product as a pen, highlighter or USB stick, and flavours such as fruit and chocolate.
Vaping advocates argue e-cigarettes are an effective way for smokers to quit smoking, with a British government study from 2015 suggesting they are up to 95 per cent safer than conventional cigarettes. Since the products are relatively new, the long-term effects are not known. TGA tests have also revealed high levels of nicotine in most vaping products even when it is not on the label.
Mr Hunt said the risk of a rapid rise in teenage vaping was a matter of “deep personal concern” and he hoped more countries would follow Australia’s lead on import laws.
niltiac Whenever I see the Age Shield I will post these damned words so the worldremembers what NAZIs Do! morestick less honey! Ukraine
niltiac Instead of banning, just treat em like cigarettes.
niltiac Quelle Surprise - as the French say. Criminals don't give a darn about laws. In any case, they're cheering, laughing at the mentally challenged legislators, who gifted them billions in untaxed profits from handing them over the market, instead of coming up with useful regulation.
niltiac An ill-conceived 'ban/overregulate stuff & it goes away' law, supported by friends of institutionally inept Oz tobacco control: A law well warned would send life-saving harm reduction products to illicit markets, has barely made a dent in Australia’s black market supply.
niltiac Big surprise
niltiac OMG! You mean to say prohibition fails by creating a vibrant and profitable black market? Who could've possibly imagined? 🙄 quacks
niltiac My take on this
niltiac Coulda told you that
niltiac 'Ok, listen up! We banned something. It had no effect on the black market. Except now it's probably in the hands of more professional operators. So it's worse. But we have an idea! Let's ban even more stuff! Like, let's repeat our mistake and see if it makes it better!' 🤦♂️
niltiac Australia figuring out how prohibition works.
niltiac It appears rather clownish to call for prohibition of something that's already banned. Or better yet, to call for more prohibition to solve a problem caused by prohibition.
niltiac People who want to quit smoking don't need a doctor. They need a product that actually works as quitting aid. Licensed age-restricted vape shops could provide that. Check out how smoking numbers dropped in NZ & UK after they incorporated vapor products in their cessation toolbox.
niltiac The importation of nicotine & nicotine-containing e-liquids without a prescription is & has always been prohibited. The root of the evil is the senseless TGA regulation. As expected, it has created a thriving black market where no one cares whether a buyer is underage or smoking.
niltiac What does the longterm studies say about smoking? Smokers have a free 66% chance to die 10 years earlier, after years or decades suffering from smoking related diseases, watched dying slowly by the own family and friends Prescription for this deadly product? Availible everywhere
niltiac Did you just discover prohibition doesn't make things magically go away? Google 100 years of history of alcohol and drug prohibition. Prohibition just drives things underground where they may be less safe, and are sold with no age checks. I hope OZ eventually figures this out.