Heart Foundation welcomes new tobacco reform measures to address e-cigarette and vaping products

Media release: 30 November, 2022

The Heart Foundation welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s renewed focus on tobacco control as well as its undertaking to consult on how regulatory shortcomings have allowed for a proliferation of vapes and e-cigarettes.

Heart Foundation CEO, David Lloyd, said that new measures announced today to reform existing tobacco control measures would build on Australia’s world-leading plain packaging laws and help Australia to achieve an overall reduction in smoking rates to less than 5 percent by 2030.

“Smoking is strongly linked to the development of heart disease and many other deadly and chronic conditions,” Mr Lloyd said.

“We thank Health Minister Mark Butler for taking this on as a priority so soon into his term in office and look forward to seeing a reduced rate of smoking in Australia in years to come.”

Mr Lloyd also commended Mr Butler for his decision to have the Therapeutic Goods Administration consult on the regulation around the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, many of which illegally contain nicotine and are illegally imported and sold to people including teenagers.

“Today’s announcement by the Minister is an important step in the fight to protect Australians from the harmful effects of vaping and e-cigarettes,” Mr Lloyd said.

“These products are being sold to young Australians despite their highly addictive nicotine content. In addition to vapes and e-cigarettes causing health problems, they also act as a gateway to smoking, which continues to cause significant chronic heart diseases.”