Vaping in Adolescents – TGA Submission
Vaping has been topical recently, particularly the availability and use of vapes by young children and adolescents. CFWA recently made a submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as part of their review of vaping regulation. We are concerned with the trends of increasing vaping, the potential adverse impact on people already living with respiratory disease from indirect exposure to vaping fumes; and the potential for increased prevalence of respiratory illness.
Vaping products often contain harmful substances/chemicals and many products are advertised as nicotine free when it is likely they are not. It is illegal to sell vaping products to children in Australia but a Curtin University study found many children are buying them on-line or in shops using code words; or sourcing them second-hand. Adults need a script for nicotine vapes (to help stop smoking) but they are accessing them on the black market too.
Our submission argued that vaping importation and access control should be tighter – for all vaping products not just those with nicotine; and product standards should be tightened. To reduce their appeal to children, we argued that packaging should be very plain and extra flavours and additives should be removed.
Submissions are now closed and the TGA review continues.