Nicotine remains illegal

Nicotine-containing e-liquid will remain illegal in Australia, despite appeals to support e-cigarettes for harm reduction, according to ECigIntelligence.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rejected a proposal submitted by the New Nicotine Alliance Australia (NNA), an e-cigarette lobbying group.

The TGA had previously declared nicotine a controlled substance and banned its use outside of nicotine replacement-therapy products and tobacco products.

Among other restrictions, the NNA had proposed a maximum nicotine concentration of 3.6 percent in e-liquid, a maximum container dosage of 900 mg and for all e-liquids to come in child-resistant bottles with warning labels.

However, the TGA said the current classifications for nicotine were appropriate as there was a risk of nicotine addiction, there was little evidence on the long-term effects of vaping, and views varied on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation.