MEEGAN Fitzharris says that from today personal vaporisers, also known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vape UK pens, will be regulated as smoking products in the ACT.

“The same restrictions that currently apply to tobacco products will also apply to personal vaporisers and related products, such as components of e-cigarettes and cartridges,” Meegan said.

“This includes restrictions around the sale to persons under 18 years, point-of-sale display and marketing of products, and use in smoke-free areas.

“The legislation prohibits the sale of e?cigarettes to children, bans the use of e-cigarettes in smoke?free areas, and places restrictions on e-cigarette advertising, displays and marketing. Businesses that sell personal vaporisers will also now be required to hold a tobacco licence.

“Restrictions on e-cigarettes brings the ACT into line with other jurisdictions, including NSW and Queensland, and is consistent with advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council to minimise any potential harms to the community pending further evidence on the safety, quality and efficacy of e-cigarettes.

“Emerging studies show that e-cigarettes can contain harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, damage DNA and may act as a gateway to nicotine addiction in children and young people.

“Restricting the use of e-cigarettes aims to protect public health, without constraining access to non-nicotine vaporisers by smokers wanting to quit.

“The ACT has relatively low levels of smoking, and we want to keep it that way. By regulating e?cigarettes we will protect the progress we have made in the last few decades to discourage people from smoking and help stop smoking from being normalised again.”

Further information on the ACT Government’s approach to the regulation of e-cigarettes available on the ACT Health website health.act.gov.au.