Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 1 October 2024
Tasmanian vaping laws to remain in place despite national changes
Vaping laws coming into effect from today in some other parts of Australia will not apply in Tasmania, the Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch, has confirmed.
From today, 1 October 2024, national laws about the sale of e-cigarette products have changed.
This means that in some mainland jurisdictions, adults can buy certain e-cigarette products over the counter in pharmacies without a prescription.
However, in Tasmania existing laws restricting the buying and selling of e-cigarettes will remain in place.
Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, said: “Despite changes elsewhere Tasmania is retaining the current requirements for the buying and selling of e-cigarette products.
‘This means adults still require a doctor’s prescription to access e-cigarettes, e-liquid and vaping devices from a pharmacy in Tasmania.
“The sale of e-cigarettes, e-liquid and vaping devices to people aged less than 18 years remains prohibited in Tasmania.”
The Public Health Guidelines relating to the sale of e-cigarette products remain in place while the Public Health Amendment (Vaping) Bill 2024 is debated in Parliament.
What this means for Tasmanians:
- adults can still only legally buy e-cigarettes, e-liquid and vaping devices from pharmacies and require a doctor’s prescription to do so.
- it is still illegal to sell e-cigarettes, e-liquid and vaping devices to people under 18 years of age.
Dr Veitch said the Guideline will continue to enable Tasmanian adults choosing to access e-cigarettes to support their reduction or cessation of tobacco to continue to do so with medical support and a prescription, and legally sold products.
The Guideline maintains current requirements for a prescription to legally access e-cigarette products. This avoids an abrupt change to the legal supply of e-cigarettes on 1 October 2024, followed by a reversal of this some weeks later should the Bill be passed.
To support young people to quit vaping the Department of Health has also implemented a number of information resources, including:
- Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package for schools and teachers, including classroom resources, and information for parents.
- Do you know what you’re vaping? resources on the Department of Health website, for young people, parents and carers, and schools.
For help to stop smoking and vaping:
- Talk to your health professional.
- Call the Tasmanian Quitline on 13 QUIT or visit their website: www.quittas.org.au
- Download the My QuitBuddy app: www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/my-quitbuddy-app
- Find more on how to provide support for a person who wants to quit on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website: www.health.gov.au/vaping/for-parents-and-carers
Learn more about:
- Tasmanian laws at: www.health.tas.gov.au/smoking-product-legislation
- e-cigarettes and vaping at: www.health.tas.gov.au/vaping
Ted Mead
October 1, 2024 at 13:03
Vaping is another stupid human habit that should be discouraged at any cost, particularly for the younger generation. Why is Australia so reluctant to act on the detrimental health issues of vaping? As from 2018 there are around 40 countries world-wide that have already banned vaping, and 82 countries that regulate the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes.
There is also ample scientific evidence that vapes carry similar hazardous substances as conventional cigarettes, and that they expose users to additional although unvalidated risks, and that they possess the same ingredients that cause addiction. Here is an extract from Channel News Asia digital media. What’s the science behind Singapore’s policy on vapes?
‘Toxicology has given us an objective way to appraise the health risks of e-cigarettes, says NUS Associate Professor Ho Han Kiat’.
KNOWN HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN VAPES
“Much like conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals. There are several well-established classes of hazardous substances in vapes, including heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (found in coal and fossil fuels) and fine particulate matter. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and chromium are linked to cancer. Cadmium, found commonly in batteries, can damage the airway, resulting in respiratory difficulty.
“Polyaromatic hydrocarbons belong in one of the best studied groups of substances that we call procarcinogens. Procarcinogens don’t harm us immediately at the point of inhalation, but can be metabolised by our bodies and converted into carcinogens, which are substances that can cause cancer.
“Fine particulate matter, when inhaled, can travel all the way into the lungs’ air sacs where gas exchange takes place. What this means is that every puff on a vape – just like every puff on a cigarette – transports substances into your body that could cause health problems.
“As these particles are difficult for the body to break down, their presence triggers a continuous but futile response from the body to get rid of them. This can result in excessive phlegm production, and chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract.”
The entire article is here.
Jake
October 3, 2024 at 13:01
Cigarettes can be legally bought by adults without a prescription, and they are generally thought to be much worse than vaping. Having smoked tobacco for 20 years and then having switched to vaping, my lungs feel much much better.
As for breathing in particulate matter .. well, just breathing does that while pollen, dust and all sorts of particulate matter enter your lungs. I imagine people working in the construction industries inhale more than someone vaping does.
Anyhow I’m down to 2 mg of nicotine now, having gone from vaping 30 mg, to 20 mg, to 10 mg, 5 mg, 3 mg now at 2 mg – my body has adjusted each time.
My next bottle will therefore likely be 1 mg, then hopefully to 0 mg and I’ll be done, so with 20 years of tobacco smoking bought under control in one year with vapes this seems like a good solution to me.
Ted Mead
October 3, 2024 at 20:46
Jake – congratulations for working your way through the cigarette addiction escape process! With luck you may emerge clean and healthy!
Research shows that vaping is not the ideal process for mitigating cigarette addiction, although if it provides the end goal for you, then well done!
Click here for more facts on vaping.