Australia is looking to crack down on the illegal ‘vape’ trade by making it even more illegal. 

Australia is set to implement new regulations that will ban the importation of nonprescription vaping products, including those that do not contain nicotine. 

The reforms will also introduce minimum quality standards for electronic cigarettes typically referred to as ‘vapes’; restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients, and will require pharmaceutical-like packaging. Single-use, disposable vapes will also be banned. 

The government says it wants to make it easier for smokers to quit tobacco smoking by getting a prescription and understanding the contents of the vaping products they then buy. 

The federal health minister, Mark Butler, says the target of the reforms are the importers and the vendors, not consumers. However, the path of prohibition typically leads to more harm, not fewer users. 

The government is funding a vaping education campaign as part of the reforms, as well as extra measures to control tobacco, such as a tax hike. 

The reforms are being implemented with urgency, but the Commonwealth, states and territories are still working on the precise terms of the regulations. 

It is expected that new legislation will be required, and a transition period will be likely too. 

Tobacco companies, vaping lobbyists and harm reduction experts say the planned vaping reforms amount to prohibition. 

This is concerning for some, given that the criminalisation of nicotine and drugs typically requires enormous justice system resources and fails to reduce harm. 

The government hopes that preventing vapes entering the country will mean less resources are required to police vendors. 

Some say measures will be needed to ensure the market is not driven underground, as usually happens when addictive substances are prohibited. 

The government says it is targeting vapes because of their uptake by children. Many believe that displaying the devices in colourful packaging with enjoyable flavours means they are marketed towards children.

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.

While the precise details of the new regulations are still unclear, the government says it is committed to implementing the reforms as soon as possible.