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A Tale of Two Countries
There is much to learn from exploring the contrasting approaches to Tobacco Harm Reduction in Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand are neighbouring countries with plenty of similarities, yet the two regions are equally distinctive in their differences in their approach to Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). THR involves the complete switching of adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke combustible tobacco products like cigarettes, to Smokeless Products*† such as Vapour Products (which includes Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), E-Cigarettes, Vaping Devices or Vapes).
Australia has taken a prohibitive stance on Vapour Products, while New Zealand, as part of its focus to becoming smoke-free by 2025, has adopted an approach that embraces Vapour Products as a better alternative for adult smokers.
New Zealand’s Approach
New Zealand is on the verge to becoming smoke-free (defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as having a smoking prevalence of less than 5% of the population) by 2025, after halving its smoking prevalence from 16.4% in 2011/12 to 6.9% in 2023/24 [1].
This success has largely been a result of the government endorsing Vapour Products as better alternatives for adult smokers who wish to continue nicotine use, while enforcing the regulation of the category to mitigate underage access.
Part of the rationale behind this is that the New Zealand government has placed consideration and focus on harm reduction, acknowledging that some adult smokers may not quit. The government aimed to encourage them away from cigarettes by providing alternatives with lower risk profiles and making smokeless alternatives*† more available and accessible.
While embracing Vapour Products, New Zealand has done so alongside the implementation of a robust regulatory framework. Under New Zealand’s Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Regulation 2021, Vapour Products are legal for adults, but flavours and packaging are regulated to reduce underage appeal. Not only that, the government also maintains strict quality control measures to ensure product safety.
Furthermore, the availability of regulated Vapour Products has been found to discourage the purchase and use of black-market products that may contain unknown and unregulated ingredients.
Australia’s Approach
In contrast, Australia has taken a very different path in regulating Vapour Products.
Current estimates indicate there are now 1.7 million adult vapers in Australia [2]. Of these, more than 90% are using vapes from illegal sources. Furthermore, the smoking rate in Australia has also plateaued, indicating that traditional efforts to reduce smoking incidence are no longer driving declines.
Most of this is due to Australia’s highly restrictive and prohibitionary approach to Vapour Products.
While nicotine Vapour Products have never been legal for adult retail sale in Australia, since October 2021, Australia has had a severely restricted prescription-only access model. This model requires adult consumers to obtain a doctor’s prescription to legally purchase Vapour Products from a pharmacy.
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australia is the only country in the world to restrict access to nicotine Vapour Products on a prescription-only basis.
In 2023, the Australian government announced extended restrictions on importation and retail sales including non-nicotine Vapour Products and shut down a personal importation scheme.
The government also implemented heavy penalties of up to A$32,000 and imprisonment for those in possession of unauthorised nicotine, more severe than penalties for possession of small quantities of drugs such as cannabis.
However, Australia is opening up to change around its regulations.
Since 1 October 2024, therapeutic Vapour Products containing nicotine or zero-nicotine substances have been available for supply in pharmacy settings to patients 18 years or over without a prescription. While this has opened conversations around change, the approach has already been rejected by pharmacists themselves, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia publicly stating: “it is unclear how this change will address concerns around the availability of black-market vapes and organised crime.”
Looking Ahead
Conversations around THR and Smokeless Products*† such as Vapour Products are gaining momentum, but the evolution of these discussions vary across different markets. There needs to be an opportunity for open dialogue among stakeholders to carry on these important conversations. New Zealand’s successful approach and how that's aiding in its transition to a smokeless world provides a good roadmap for other countries who want to follow suit.
Disclaimer
* Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.
† Our Vapour product Vuse (including Alto, Solo, Ciro and Vibe), and certain products, including Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, and Camel Snus, which are sold in the U.S., are subject to FDA regulation and no reduced-risk claims will be made as to these products without agency clearance.
We believe that through knowledge sharing, we can build a Smokeless World, which is why we created the Omni™, a BAT’s manifesto on tobacco harm reduction intended for scientists, public health authorities, regulators, policy makers, and investors.
Visit asmokelessworld.com and download the Omni™. Review the evidence. Join the Conversation.