Vapers Force Australian Health Minister to Withdraw Vape Ban

On June 27, reports from foreign media indicated that if Australian electronic cigarette users are celebrating excessively today, please forgive them.
 

After a week of public outrage, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has withdrawn and postponed the strict nicotine import ban originally set to take effect on July 1.
 

The ban was announced a week ago and would have prevented Australian electronic cigarette users from obtaining nicotine for mixing electronic liquids, but it has now been postponed until January 1, 2021.
 

The health minister faced increasing opposition to the ban, including from members of his own party.
 

On Thursday, 28 members of the ruling coalition signed a letter opposing the nicotine import ban.
 

Angry opponents took to social media and called and wrote to officials to complain. A petition against the ban created by two members of parliament received over 52,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
 

Hunt announced the postponement on Friday and promised to simplify the process to allow users to obtain nicotine through prescriptions.
 

Currently, due to state laws making the process cumbersome or impossible, pharmacies do not sell nicotine. This means that electronic cigarette users (even if they have a doctor's prescription) cannot obtain nicotine without purchasing it from abroad and bringing it into Australia.
 

This ban would prevent all imports and leave electronic cigarette users without a legal source of nicotine.
 

In Australia, the sale of nicotine-containing electronic liquids is illegal, where nicotine (except for cigarettes and medicines) is classified as a toxic substance. Electronic cigarette users are allowed to import a three-month supply of prescription medications for personal use. Many users ignore the prescription requirement and illegally import nicotine.
 

The restrictions have not been strictly enforced. However, the changes announced by Hunt will require the health department and the Australian Border Force to cooperate to enforce the import ban. Customs officials will have the authority to seize all nicotine shipments, even those paid for before the ban was announced. Penalties for violating the import ban will include fines of over AUD 220,000.
 

In the week since Hunt announced the July 1 ban, it has been reported that panicked users have tried to stockpile nicotine and ordered large quantities from overseas suppliers. Some Australian appliance dealers' refrigerators have reportedly sold out.
 

Among major countries, only Australia and India have completely banned the sale of nicotine vaping products. Most countries/regions regulate the sale and manufacture of electronic cigarettes, with the UK even encouraging smokers to use electronic cigarettes.
 

As Hunt is forced to retreat, public outrage over his proposed ban has reignited, and now is the time for consumers and businesses to push lawmakers for sensible and permanent solutions. Some are eager for change, including some from Hunt's own Liberal Party.
 

Liberal MP James Paterson told The Guardian on Friday that six months gives us time to establish a system to ensure that anyone who needs to use these safer alternatives can access them.