27/02/2023
Australia’s booming nicotine vape black market will continue to grow at alarming rates if the Federal Government does not take urgent regulatory action now, the Australian Association of Convenience (AACS) Stores has warned in its submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),
“The current policy of prohibition has turned everyday adults into common criminals as they turn to the black market to access nicotine vapes to try and give up smoking.” AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said.
Australia is one of the only first-world countries to ban the sale of nicotine vapes, without a prescription.
“We’ve heard time and time again from people who can’t find a prescribing GP – and even if they do, they’re mostly unable to get their prescription filled because hardly any chemists stock them for a proven adult smoking cessation tool. Our research shows that only 10% of adult consumers are using the TGA model as intended” Mr Foukkare said.
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