‘s world-first crackdown on vaping could drive more people to smoke tobacco or use black market vapes, a Health Department analysis has warned.
New legislation enforced from January 1, banned the sale of nicotine vapes in specialised retailers and convenience stores.
Now, ns will need to seek a prescription from their GP to buy a vape from a chemist.
However, this is estimated to require almost one-million GP appointments for 450,000 ns, at a time when the medical industry is suffering from a lack of doctors and bulk billing services.
‘s world-first crackdown on vaping could drive more people to smoke tobacco or use black market vapes, a Health Department analysis has warned
The report also warns that it’s possible there could also be shortages of medical vape suppliers to fill the void.
‘If access to nicotine-containing vapes were to be significantly restricted there is a risk that ns addicted to nicotine may seek alternative products to meet cravings, such as tobacco,’ the report said.
‘Fears that extra regulation may incentivise growth in the black market for nicotine vapes must also be acknowledged.
‘This is a legitimate risk as tighter regulation will often raise the risk of black-market sales.’
Health minister Mark Butler last week warned businesses still selling illegal vapes that they’re going to have to find another way to make money – but refused to explain just how he was going to stop the booming illegal trade.
Daily Mail proved the trade in the now illegal vapes continues openly across the despite his import ban on disposable vapes coming into force on January 1.
Along busy King Street in the Sydney suburb of Newtown at least 20 independent and chain stores are selling illegal nicotine vapes, illicit cigarettes and other devices.
New legislation enforced from January 1 outlawed the sale of nicotine vapes specialised retailers and convenience stores
Buying a vape is as easy as buying a can of drink or a newspaper and in many cases requires no ID checks with the average vape costing about $25.
‘Government is not going to stand by and let this happen,’ Mr Butler told Daily Mail , saying they would never regulate the devices like tobacco or alcohol.
‘I’ve said to businesses that are making money out of this trade, you’re going to have to find another way to make money,’ he warned.
‘Vape shops are deliberately setting up down the road from schools – it’s an industry targeting their product to kids.’
However, despite the tough talk, he refused to detail how they would stop the trade in vapes, which has seen a surge in nicotine addiction across , particularly among teenagers and young adults.
It has been illegal to vape or smoke cigarettes in without a prescription since 2021
Selling nicotine vapes has been illegal since 2021 under laws introduced by the previous Morrison government, but many retailers have brazenly continued to sell them illegally, with some falsely labelling them as being nicotine free.
In an attempt to fix the loopholes in the previous legislation and crackdown on the supply of vapes at convenience stores, Mr Butler introduced a nationwide ban on the importation of disposable vapes on January 1.
Retailers can sell existing inventory imported before January 1, as long as it is nicotine-free.
‘These are the vapes that are targeted specifically to get children hooked on nicotine,’ Mr Butler said. ‘And unlike the former government we aren’t making a distinction and the border between non-nicotine and nicotine vapes.’
The governments crackdown on vapes is only beginning, with further measures, including a ban on the importation of all other vapes, including refillable products, will be banned from 1 March 2024.
To coincide with the changes to the importation rules, a new access scheme has been set up to allow doctors and nurses to prescribe therapeutic vapes for quitting smoking or to manage nicotine dependence.
‘Once the legislation passes the Parliament later this year the only legal way to buy vapes will be therapeutically through a pharmacy,’ Mr Butler said.
But former federal police officer, Rohan Pike, said it would be extremely hard for the n Border Force (ABF) to enforce the import ban on disposable vapes and says a black market will continue to thrive.
‘While there is a demand for it, there will be a black market, as there already is now,’ he told Nine. ‘The unfortunate part about that is it’s so unregulated. People are consuming these things and really leaving their health in the hands of organised criminals.’
No ID checks were required when Daily Mail purchased illegal vape products
A nationwide ban on the import and sale of disposable vapes came into effect on January 1
Director of the Legalise Vaping lobby group, Brian Marlow, said the import ban had only allowed retailers to charge their customers more for vapes because of the increased risks they were taking to import and sell them.
He said crime gangs who import the vapes from China to sell to retailers have also been able to increase their profit margins.
‘Over 90 per cent of the vapes sold in are black market,’ he said.
‘With over one million vapers in you’re looking at a multi-billion dollar industry that the federal government has no real plan to legalise.
‘We’re the only country in the world with an issue this bad.
Mr Marlow said marketing restrictions, product standards, licences for retailers, and heavy fines for selling to minors would help clean up the black market.
‘ should be following the lead of New Zealand, the UK and the rest of the world when it comes to vaping laws,’ he said.
‘Allow the sale of high quality vapes and regulate them in the same way we regulate other adult-only products like alcohol.
‘Doing this will allow adults to access safer products that won’t have sky high nicotine levels like what you see in dodgy Chinese disposables.
‘It will also crush the rampant vaping black market the government has created.’
Mr Butler hit back at the suggestion: ‘The only groups who want to regulate and sell vaping products are those who profit once kids get hooked on nicotine – Big Tobacco and tobacco retailers.’