“The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates (CAPHRA) believes Australia is increasingly out of step with forward thinking nations, rapidly becoming the “odd one out” in the Asia Pacific region when it comes to tobacco harm reduction and vaping. “Ignoring all evidence, the Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt’s determination to ban the importation of all e-cigarette products containing nicotine from 1 January next year is a big backward step which will sadly lead to more Australians smoking,” Nancy Loucas says. CAPHRA says there are rumblings that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration will make an announcement in the next month or so for the full medicalisation of nicotine and vaping for smoking cessation. Ms Loucas says that if the rumblings are correct, Australia will create a huge black market for nicotine and vaping liquids, which opens up the possibilities of creating harm rather than reducing it.”
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