ARA: New Zealand to legalise vaping, leaving Australia behind… again

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said that following the announcement by the New Zealand Associate Minister of Health, Jenny Salesa, to legalise vaping and nicotine e-cigarettes, Australia will soon sit behind more than 60 other countries in continuing to ban the alternatives to traditional tobacco products.

The announcement by Associate Minister Salesa last Friday emphasised that legalising vaping will enhance product quality and safety and assist low-income earners, who have some of the highest smoking rates, to switch to a cheaper and less harmful alternative.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said that it was past-time that the Health Minister, Greg Hunt MP, dropped his personal opposition to legalising nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia, and followed the lead of our international counterparts.

“The Health Minister is standing in the way of a path towards better health outcomes for long-term smokers, due to a personal opposition to all forms of tobacco,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We call on the Minister to put his personal convictions aside for the benefit of Australians, and listen to our counterparts across the Tasman, who have clearly stated that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking.”

In August, the CSIRO’s E-cigarettes, smoking and health (the report) literature review indicated that e-cigarettes can assist some smokers in quitting traditional cigarettes. The report also provided evidence for a range of health improvements when conventional tobacco smokers make the switch.

“According to the CSIRO’s findings, it is clear that e-cigarettes are preferred by some smokers as a cessation method. Trials have found nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective at reducing conventional smoking than nicotine free e-cigarettes or no e-cigarettes,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The Government should listen to the CSIRO and alleviate concerns about unregulated usage by allowing retailers to sell nicotine e-cigarettes legally.”

Along with the CSIRO’s report, a Crosby Textor poll conducted in June found almost 50 percent of Australians and more than two thirds of smokers support the legalisation of e-cigarettes and personal vaporisers in Australia.

“The Crosby Textor poll showed that 70 percent of Australians and 67 percent of smokers agreed that vaporisers were a way to completely phase out cigarette smoking in Australia,” Mr Zimmerman said.

With New Zealand legalising the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes, Australia will now sit behind over 60 countries, including most of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and several Asian nations, giving consumers ample options to circumvent local restrictions and import vaping products from overseas.

“When restrictions force consumers to import these products, rather than purchase them legally at home, consumers are exposed to the risk of unregulated and potentially unsafe products,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The number of people who are already importing nicotine-based e-cigarettes from overseas is growing, giving offshore retailers a significant advantage and translating into a significant loss of revenue for Australian retailers.

“Allowing retailers the opportunity to sell these harm reduction alternatives is a win-win, as it provides health benefits for the community, and economic benefits, including a reduced burden on the health system and crucial support for local retailers.”

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak industry body, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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