The number of Australians who smoke has fallen notably since the Sixties. Compared with other nations around the world, the percentage of smokers in Australia is also very low.
So, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise to learn a recent attempt to allow nicotine to be used in electronic cigarettes in the country has failed. The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) in the country recently announced the current ban on nicotine in e-cigarettes will stay.
The person who made the attempt asked that nicotine should not be included within Schedule 7 when it was at low concentration – 3.6% or less. The argument was that low concentrations of nicotine would make using electronic cigarettes easier for those who couldn’t quit smoking or did not wish to.
A professor at the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, Simon Chapman, supported the decision. He also pointed out the significant drop in smoking rates among Australians has been achieved since the Sixties without any help from electronic cigarettes, which have only been developed recently. Those wanting to swap from smoking to e-cigs will no doubt be disappointed at the ruling. It cited concerns at young people becoming hooked on nicotine via vaping rather than smoking, among other things. However, research indicates this rarely happens.
Nicotine is viewed as a poison in Australia. That means it is illegal to sell it in any form other than under licence as a recognised and approved medication. So, you cannot buy nicotine-containing e-cigarettes anywhere in the country. However, it can be legally imported by individuals to use for their own needs (but for how long, we wonder).
Do you agree with the current ruling on nicotine in e-cigs across Australia, or do you think it’s time for a change? Let us know in the comments.
