Victoria 'failing the whole nation' in enforcement of anti-vaping measures
Victoria's laws and enforcement are deemed inadequate to combat the illegal vaping market, with experts arguing the state is 'failing the whole nation'.Summary
Anti-vaping advocates and public health experts argue that Victoria's laws and enforcement are inadequate to crack down on a flood of illegal vaping products. While the Victorian government introduced new laws to give police power to close shops selling illegal tobacco, these laws do not cover illegal vaping products. Quit Victoria, a public health partnership, argues that the legislation should encompass illegal vapes and that the current workforce is insufficient to enforce the laws, with only 14 officers available compared to over 200 in Queensland. An estimated 80% of nicotine products consumed in Australia last year were illegal. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Commonwealth health department are responsible for regulating vapes, but state and territory health departments take primary carriage in wholesale and retail supply. Quit Victoria is launching a new public health campaign to warn young people about the health risks of vaping, including the potential for oral and lung cancers, and to encourage them to quit.
(Source：Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
