New changes to vaping in Australia - Illawarra Medical Centre

Vaping has been a hot topic over the past year, particularly with regards to the health impacts of e-cigarettes and their prevalence amongst younger Australians. New regulations coming into place this year hope to address the health risks imposed by vaping while still allowing for legitimate patient access to therapeutic vapes for reducing or quitting smoking.

In this month’s blog, we revisit the topic of vapes and look at the new regulations being rolled out throughout 2024.

What are vapes?

Vapes, or e-cigarettes, are electronic, battery-operated devices that have been designed to deliver vapourised liquids into the lungs.

The battery component is used as a source of energy to power the atomizer, which heats the liquid so that it emits an aerosol or mist. This can then be inhaled through a mouthpiece and exhaled as a fine-particulate smoke. It is similar to turning water into steam.

Vapes come in many different styles, shapes, sizes and flavours, from tobacco to fruit flavours and even cola, caramel and lolly flavours.

What ingredients are typically found in e-cigarettes and vapes?

The main ingredients that are typically found in vapes include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerol, nicotine, flavours and other chemicals.

Vapes can contain a number of harmful substances, including:

nicotine, even in e-cigarettes marketed as ‘nicotine-free’;
cancer-causing chemicals such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein;
harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weedkiller and bug spray;
heaving metals, such as nickel, tin and lead
ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
flavouring chemicals, such as diacetyl (which has been linked to serious lung disease); and
volatile organic compounds

Where are the current rules around vaping?

In Australia, it is illegal to sell, supply or possess an e-cigarette or any liquid that contains nicotine without a doctor’s prescription, including products imported from overseas.

In Western Australia, nicotine is strictly regulated under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 and products that are designed to resemble tobacco products are regulated under the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006.

These Acts essentially outline that e-cigarette devices and their components cannot be sold by tobacco or general retailers. It is also illegal for individuals to sell vapes to friends, colleagues or in the community.

In addition, it’s illegal to sell, supply or possess nicotine vaping products (or any liquid that contains nicotine) without a prescription from a doctor, including products imported from overseas.

What new regulations are being introduced in 2024?

The first stage of Australia’s vaping reforms came into place on 1 January 2024 and include:

the banning on importation of all disposable vapes, with very limited exceptions;
a Special Access Scheme C (SAS C) pathway to facilitate legitimate patient access to therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence. This pathway will allow doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe therapeutic vapes for patients as part of a medically supervised smoking cessation strategy;
a form available for importers and manufacturers of therapeutic vapes to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of compliance with product standards; and
an application form available for therapeutic vape importers to apply for licences and permits to import therapeutic vapes.

Additional reforms will be introduced in March 2024 and will include:

a ban on imports of all vapes without an import licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control;
the requirement for therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers to notify the TGA about compliance with relevant product standards before importation to Australia or release for supply in Australia;
closure of the Personal Importation Scheme for vapes;
an exemption for travellers to bring a small quantity of vapes into Australia;
changes to the quality requirements for therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence, including restricting flavours to mint, menthol and tobacco only; and
a new medical device standard for therapeutic vaping devices that were previously excluded from the therapeutic goods framework.

The below TGA infographic helps to explain how these changes will work:

What is the impact of vapes on health?

Vapes are often cited as being a healthy alternative to cigarettes and a useful tool in helping smokers to quit or reduce their smoking.

However, the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Guidelines note that nicotine vaping products should not be used as a first-line treatment for smoking cessation. Instead, RACGP recommends approved pharmacological therapies combined with behavioural support as a much safer and evidence based approach to stopping smoking.

Where people have tried unsuccessfully to stop smoking through pharmacological therapies and behavioural support, then nicotine vaping products may be considered as a reasonable intervention.

However, the fact is that the long-term health risks of vaping products are simply unknown and there are mixed reports on their actual effectiveness in stopping smoking.

As noted by the WA Department of Health, some of the health concerns around vaping include:

Lung Damage – vaping has been linked to serious lung disease, with one of the commonly used ingredients in vapes – formaldehyde – known to cause irreversible lung damage.
Brain and Physical Development – the consumption of nicotine in children and adolescents can have long-lasting damaging effects on their brain and physical development and potentially lead to learning and anxiety disorders. Nicotine changes the way the brain synapses are formed in young people. Some of the impacts include impaired attention, learning and memory, as well as changes in mood.

3. Burns – there have been a number of cases reported where e-cigarette batteries or devices have overheated, caught fire or exploded. This can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injury, disability and disfigurement.

4. Nicotine Addiction and Poisoning – nicotine is highly addictive. One vape can contain the same amount of nicotine found in 50 cigarettes and research shows that young people who vape are three times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes

The symptoms of nicotine addiction from vapes is the same as cigarettes, and include:

increased irritability;
increased anxiousness;
intense cravings to vape;
lack of concentration; and
trouble sleeping.

E-liquids that contact nicotine when swallowed or absorbed through the skin can result in poisoning, as can too much nicotine from using vapes.

5. Exposure to harmful substances – as with cigarettes, there are also concerns about the potential health impacts on those who are exposed to the harmful substances found in e-cigarettes – either as a user or a bystander exposed second-hand.

6. Mental Health – vaping nicotine can increase a person’s risk for depression and anxiety and make existing symptoms worse.

Concerned about the impact of smoking or vapes on your health?

If you have any health concerns regarding smoking or vaping, please make an appointment with your GP, who will be able to provide advice about suitable options to help you quit.

To make an appointment at Illawarra Medical Centre, simply book online or contact us on (08) 9208 6400.