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One of the largest tobacco companies in the world wants Western Australia to pave the way for a national e-cigarette regulation.
Key points:
- British American Tobacco states that the status of electronic cigarettes in Australia is confusing
- The tobacco giant's calls have been rejected by WA's health minister
- Cancer Council WA says that it is impossible to trust the tobacco industry
British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) presented to the Washington Special Committee on Personal Choice and Community Safety, which assesses whether the use of electronic cigarettes should be legalized in that state.
This is part of a wider review of so-called "nanny state" laws introduced by committee chair Aaron Stonehouse, who had previously stated that his goal was to reduce regulation in the lives of people. people.
Electronic cigarettes heat a liquid that may contain nicotine in the form of vapor that users can inhale, and there are various bans on the sale of products in Australia.
In Western Australia, it is illegal to sell similar products to tobacco products, whether or not they contain nicotine.
The sale of liquid nicotine is illegal in Australia, which means that vape stores are limited to electronic cigarette devices and nicotine-free e-liquids.
People who want nicotine in their electronic cigarettes have to order it abroad.
In its presentation to the investigation, BATA stated that the legal status of electronic cigarettes in Australia was complex and confusing.
"At the same time, there is clear evidence of an increase in illegal sales of electronic cigarettes and electronic liquids containing nicotine," he said.
"As a result, it is clear that the market needs a consistent and enforceable regulatory framework to ensure that adult consumers can have access to smoking alternatives that can safely reduce risk."
WA urged to lead the push
BATA's Government Affairs Officer, Nat Openshaw, said he hoped the committee would lead a national e-cigarette regulation.
"This [the WA Government] defend with the federal government via [the Council of Australian Governments] for a national regulatory framework for these products, "he said.
"We see that WA has an opportunity to really defend this cause at the federal level."
Nicholas Booth, BATA Manager of Government and Government Affairs, told the committee that Australia had the opportunity to "select" the best elements of the e-voke regulation from comparable jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom. , Canada and New Zealand.
"This would ensure that adult Australian smokers looking for a potentially safer alternative to tobacco can do so in a global setting," he said.
"According to the statistics of the federal government, 120,000 Australians use these products daily, which happens in an environment where these products are illegal."
The tobacco industry criticized by the Cancer Council
Kelly Kennington, Head of Policy and Strategy for Cancer Council WA, said that tobacco companies should not testify during the investigation.
"The tobacco industry is responsible for a product that kills 7 million people every year," she said.
"They have absolutely no place at the table to discuss public health or regulatory measures that will prevent children from smoking.
"We can not trust the tobacco industry."
How do electronic cigarettes work?
- Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine cartridge in a spray mist.
- They deliver nicotine (the addictive agent of cigarettes) without burning tobacco or producing harmful smoke.
- Smoking electronic cigarettes is often called steaming.
Ms. Kennington said that there was strong evidence suggesting that vaping had led to smoking among young people.
"In the United States, for example, they saw a 70% increase in the number of high school students who were out of breath in just one year," she said.
"What we do not know at the moment is the evidence of its harmfulness.We know that there is some level of harm and that the tobacco industry has not yet been in quantify it. "
"But what we do know is that there is alarming and alarming evidence that vaporization leads to smoking in children."
Electronic cigarettes are not the answer: the Minister of Health
Australia's Minister of Health, Roger Cook, said the evidence he had seen suggested that e-cigarettes did not combat tobacco dependence.
"All the international evidence is that vaping is not a panacea for quitting," he said.
"Large tobacco companies are now investing heavily in e-cigarettes.
They are not there because they want people to stop smoking, they are there because there is a profit and they can continue to feed on their nicotine addiction.
"Electronic cigarettes are not a nicotine ramp, they are a ramp."
Topics:
smoking,
health,
states and territories,
Government and politics,
federal — state-issues,
Perth 6000,
Washington
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