According to a news release on the official website of the Australian Medical Association on September 22, the association is advocating for a comprehensive reform of e-cigarette laws in Australia. This proposed reform would put an end to the sale of e-cigarettes in the country and aid individuals in quitting this dangerous and addictive habit.
According to proposed reforms by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the import, manufacture, and sale of e-cigarette products, irrespective of their nicotine content, will be prohibited for non-therapeutic purposes without a prescription from a doctor or distribution by a pharmacist.
In the documents submitted to the TGA, the AMA expresses its support for proposed reforms, which include the use of standard pharmaceutical packaging with warning labels for e-cigarette products.
Professor Steve Robson, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), has praised the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for utilizing expert advice in healthcare, public health, and science to guide reform. He also commended the government for introducing new reform measures to parliament this month, stating that it is a significant step towards tackling tobacco and nicotine addiction.
The reforms will encompass legislative changes to allow the federal, state, and territory governments to enforce new regulations through measures such as criminal offenses, civil penalties, and improved information sharing. The TGA’s reform involves several longstanding proposals by the AMA, including restrictions on the flavors and quantities of nicotine that can be prescribed or ordered, as well as curtailing personal imports.
