The Australian Medical Association welcomes the Senate's support for the federal government's world-leading vaping reforms, aimed at ending a growing public health crisis.
Today, the Senate passed the government's legislation, banning the domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of disposable and non-therapeutic vapes.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said the reforms would reduce the widespread availability of vapes by imposing much stricter controls and closing the many loopholes left open after a campaign by the vaping and tobacco lobby watered down reforms proposed by the previous Coalition government.
"The ultimate passing of the federal government's vaping legislation will be a major turning point in the fight against the insidious vaping and tobacco industry," Professor Robson said.
"We commend Health Minister Mark Butler and the federal government for putting this issue firmly on their agenda, because previous attempts to regulate vaping in Australia have failed due to the failure to listen to the public health experts, leading to more and more young people taking up vaping and becoming addicted to nicotine.
"The ultimate goal is to stop people taking up vaping and support those already hooked on this deadly habit to quit, working primarily with their GP — and this legislation does exactly that."
Vaping is extremely harmful to people's health, with evidence showing it can cause nicotine dependence, poisoning and acute nicotine toxicity causing seizures, burns, nausea and lung injuries.
Vapes are often packaged with bright colours and fruity flavours — and sold in convenience stores near schools — as a way of attracting vulnerable children.
But these products in fact contain a range of harmful substances including diacetyl, formaldehyde, chlorine, benzene, mercury and arsenic, which all have long-term impacts on human health and can cause cancer.
"Vaping is a known pathway to smoking, with one in three vapers who have never smoked before ultimately taking up cigarettes," Professor Robson said.
"The AMA has been a leading campaigner for vaping reform for a long time, and we are glad Senators have listened to the evidence and the overwhelming advice from public health experts all over the country that vapes are shockingly bad for your health."
The AMA acknowledges amendments to the legislation will make therapeutic vapes more accessible for adults in pharmacies. The AMA will work closely with the government and pharmacists to ensure these arrangements are robust and primarily focused on other nicotine cessation tools that are backed by sound evidence.
"GPs have been helping patients with nicotine dependence for decades and are the best placed to support patients quitting smoking and vaping," Professor Robson said.
