Vapes go up in smoke

The Commonwealth Government has announced a major crack down on illegal vaping.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler addressed the National Press Club last week, and announced a Commonwealth plan to eliminate ‘black market’ vapes.

Nicotine vapes are already illegal without a doctor's prescription but 'under the counter' sales are flourishing.

Vaping critics say legal loopholes and weak enforcement at the border have allowed the products into Australia in large volumes.

Butler says the $234 million included in Tuesday’s Budget will fund a range of measures to reduce vaping and increase enforcement.

"Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts," Mr Butler said.

For the vapes that remain legal when purchased with a doctor’s prescription, further rules will apply.

These include restrictions on flavours and colours, pharmaceutical-like packaging and limited nicotine concentrations and volumes.

There will also be a total ban on single-use, disposable products.

According to the Health Minister there are more than two million Aussie vapers, and he claims black-market operators are targeting children, with brightly coloured vapes and sweet flavours enticing a new generation of nicotine addicts.

A study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health found when over a thousand teenagers aged between 15 to 17 were asked if they knew where to find vapes, four-fifths said they found vapes easy or somewhat easy to buy in retail stores.

"This is a product targeted at our kids, sold alongside lollies and chocolate bars," Mr Butler said.

Mr Butler said he would also make it easier for people to get a prescription for “legitimate therapeutic use”.

Currently, there are a limited number of doctors willing to prescribe vapes as a tool to help cigarette smokers quit.