Heart Foundation welcomes introduction of new e-cigarette legislation

Media release: 21 March, 2024

New legislation introduced in Parliament today will help protect young people from the harms of e-cigarettes and vapes

The Heart Foundation has welcomed the introduction of new legislation that will strengthen and streamline the prescription access model for e-cigarettes.

The new laws introduced today in the Australian Parliament will protect young Australians from the harms of e-cigarettes, whilst making it easier for doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe e-cigarettes to people who may benefit from an e-cigarette as an aid to quit smoking.

“E-cigarettes and vapes are not safe,” said David Lloyd, CEO of the Heart Foundation.

“The more we learn about 'vaping', the more we understand its harmful effects on the human body, including its links to heart disease.

“One recent study found that any use of e-cigarettes is associated with a 33% increased risk of having a heart attack when compared to people that have never used e-cigarettes.

“Add to that the high levels of nicotine that keep people addicted and vaping is just another deadly and costly version of tobacco smoking, which already sadly costs our nation far too much in terms of pain and suffering, as well as billions of dollars in healthcare costs.

“We welcome the introduction of this legislation and call on all members of parliament to support it.”

What is the new legislation?

• Clearer and easier to access pathways for doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe e-cigarettes
• New minimum standards on flavours, colours and ingredients to make vapes less attractive to young people – seeing the end to fruit flavoured vapes which are clearly being targeted at kids.
• No more Australian manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of any non-prescription vape.
• Retailers will no longer be able to advertise, supply or commercially possess non-prescription and disposable vapes.