The Tasmanian Government supports today’s announcement by the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler of measures to strengthen regulation and enforcement activities directed at e-cigarettes.
Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff, said the Tasmanian Government is committed to reducing the prevalence of smoking and vaping and the harm it causes in communities across the State.
“We welcome the national approach to address the harm caused by vaping products,” the Premier said.
“We do not want young people growing up in Tasmania using e-cigarettes. That is why we have invested in our Smoking Prevention Package for Young People to help prevent vaping and educate our children and young people on the dangers involved in their use.
“We know that the use of e-cigarettes is increasing among school-aged children, and it is imperative that we work together to address the emerging issues we are facing with e-cigarettes.
“We also support a national campaign aimed at youth and school communities, to ensure continuity of messaging.”
The Tasmanian Government supports the Commonwealth’s plans to:
- restrict imports on all vaping products;
- limit supply to better support people who are seeking a prescription for vaping products for therapeutic use; and
- tighten existing controls for vaping products regulated by the TGA, including restrictions on packaging, flavours, as well as reductions in the allowable nicotine concentrations, and to remove single use, disposable vaping products from the Australian market.
This position aligns with the Tasmanian Government’s Tobacco Action Plan 2022-2026, which aims to reduce rates of smoking across Tasmania, and our recent submission to the TGA consultation on the regulation of e-cigarettes.
