Action for Smokefree 2025 Director Ben Youdan says people trying to quit smoking using vapes, and young people are “accessing them through the black markets”.
Mr Youdan’s comments come as concerns were raised that the federal government’s prescription model is feeding a thriving black market for vaping.
“Unlike New Zealand where we have a regulated model … we don’t have any idea really what the providence is of the products that are coming into Australia and getting into the hands of people.
“There’s actually no ability, for example, to say the nicotine should be capped at this level or you shouldn’t be selling these flavours because we know that the chemical is more harmful than another chemical.
“Australia is currently in a situation where I think you are in a bit of a lose-lose situation with your policies.”
