The peak body for Australia’s convenience stores wants tougher vaping regulations, including a licensing scheme for retailers.
It comes after the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) introduced a prescription-only model in all states and territories for nicotine-containing vapes and e-cigarettes in October last year.
“This decision will both reduce the risk of an on-ramp for teenagers,” former health minister Greg Hunt said in December 2020.
But Australian Association of Convenience Stores strategy and policy advisor Ben Meredith said the decision had failed to keep the products out of young hands, and more needed to be done.
Mr Meredith said the current regulatory model was fuelling the “ever-rising black market”.
“By continuing down this path we’re allowing young people to access these products through illegitimate retail or online,” Mr Meredith said.
The association commissioned Roy Morgan to conduct research into vaping use in Australia as part of its push for tougher reforms.
The research showed vaping had grown by 259 per cent in the past five years.
More than 1.1 million people vape, with 88 per cent of all e-cigarette purchases in Australia are made through the illicit black market, according to the research.
“That tells us the prohibition that has been put in place isn’t working,” Mr Meredith said.
Mr Meredith said the association wanted federal and state governments to convene for a national summit to address the problem.
The association has suggested a suite of measures, including implementing a national licensing scheme for all retailers of nicotine-containing vaping products.
In a statement to the ABC, a spokesperson for federal health minister Mark Butler said “better options to tackle e-cigarette marketing and use” were discussed during last week’s inaugural Tobacco Control Roundtable.
“The former government dropped the ball on vaping,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the TGA was strengthening its compliance and enforcement activities together with states and territories and the Australian Border Force.
“The TGA is also considering whether amendments to the existing regulatory scheme could reduce access to nicotine vaping products by adolescents and young adults, and ensure that smokers only use nicotine e-cigarettes with the guidance of their doctor and with a prescription,” the spokesperson said.
Shops ‘impacted’ by black market
Mr Meredith said convenience stores were also being harmed by the prescription-only model, with customers choosing retailers selling illegal products over those doing the right thing.
Of the 7,000 convenience stores the the association represents, 1,400 are in Victoria with 600 of those in regional areas of the state.
“We need to protect them from illegitimate retailers,” Mr Meredith said.
“Consumers are walking into those outlets, just because they are selling nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and vapes.”
He said some outlets in Victoria have experienced a 20 per cent downturn in sales because of reduced foot traffic.
“This is having an impact on small business and the community,” he said.
Lexie Jeuniewic – ABC – 2022-10-03.
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