Australia is cracking down on e-cigarettes. Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Tuesday that the country will ban the import of all vapes that are not intended for pharmacies. In addition, not only are disposable e-cigarettes banned from the shelves, but certain packaging and flavors are also banned – primarily to protect young people.
“No more bubblegum flavors, pink unicorns, or e-cigarettes disguised as highlighters for kids to hide in their pencil cases,” Butler said. “Instead, we’re going to have simple packaging, with simple flavors.”
Vaping has become “the biggest loophole in Australian history”. The country will not allow the progress made in reducing tobacco use to be undone by the “new threat” to public health.
Minister of Health: Will not stand idly by
“Vaping has been sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit,” the minister said. Instead, young people who vape were three times more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes as well. “This has to end. We will not stand by and watch vaping create another generation of nicotine addicts.”
Disposable e-cigarettes are also controversial in Germany – mainly because of their poor environmental balance. In March, the Federal Council advocated a ban on single-use e-cigarettes at EU level. On the website of the Federal Environment Ministry it says: “Neither the battery nor the liquid can be replaced. This makes disposable e-cigarettes a short-lived disposable product that, from an environmental point of view, is a waste of resources.”
