A Sun-Herald investigation has found tobacconists and other
businesses are selling potentially deadly nicotine products as traders seek to
cash in on the boom in electronic cigarettes.
Research suggests battery-powered e-cigarette devices could
be a safer alternative to cigarettes. But the illegal nicotine-laced
''e-juice'' - which is heated into vapour and then inhaled from the gadgets -
is the subject of growing health warnings.
Eight shops were found to be selling a range of banned
nicotine formulas in bottles that carried no list of ingredients, no warnings
and, in some cases, no labels. Many originate from backyard laboratories.
While many are pre-mixed products from overseas, others are
made locally using imported ''base'' nicotine under confusing legislation that
governs personal use.
A spokesman for the federal Department of Health said on
Friday it was ''exploring options for further regulation'' of electronic
nicotine delivery systems.
A NSW Health spokesman confirmed that to date no person had
been provided with a licence to supply nicotine-based e-liquids, and that
people caught ''supplying'' or ''using'' the products faced prosecution.
While most e-cigarette users believe the industry needs
regulation, some fear a blanket ban would not only prevent them from ''vaping''
but also drive them back to smoking regular cigarettes.
Leon Alegria, who supplies legal non-nicotine laced
e-liquids from his ''Delicious Monsta'' website, said: ''Not everybody is doing
the wrong thing.
''There is a lot of concern about the quality and safety of
nicotine and e-liquids arriving from overseas. But until there is some form of
consumer regulation, people will continue to gamble their health on toxic
products, mixed by unknown sources beside a kitchen sink.''
Under the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines
and Poisons, nicotine is listed as a banned ''Schedule 7 poison''. The list
also features chlorine and arsenic.
However, on the Australian Customs Service website, it
states that a Schedule 7 poison ''does not normally justify an import
prohibition''. Referring to Department of Health policy, it adds: ''The
department does not consider an import control is warranted in the short term
for individual use if bringing in less than three months supply.''
While many ''vapers'' are importing nicotine liquid for
genuine personal use, The Sun-Herald is aware of others who regard the law as a
loophole to flood the black market and profit commercially.
On Thursday, Whysmoke was selling a range of its own branded
e-liquids from its ''one-stop shop'' in Fairfield. While its labels make no
specific reference to nicotine as an ingredient, a shop assistant sold this reporter
a ''tobacco'' flavoured solution for $10 and assured him it was ''the real
deal''.
''Taste the nicotine yourself,'' they said. ''It's what we
specialise in.''
Elsewhere, sellers were doing a roaring trade in pre-mixed
versions from overseas. On Saturday, the Healthy e-cigarettes stand at Paddy's
Markets promoted flavoured e-liquids that resembled an ice-cream menu, with
chocolate, French vanilla, strawberry and tutti frutti among the legal
solutions on display. While the operators initially denied selling nicotine
fluids, they later produced a tub from below the counter and sold an
11-milligram ''USA Mix'' for $5, acknowledging: ''We could be fined for this.''
The Tobacco Station Group (TSG) shop in Liverpool supplied a
10-milligram coffee-flavoured e-juice for just $4, stating: ''We can get it for
you cheap cheap. Around the corner, they charge $7.''
In Kings Cross, meanwhile, the TSG shopkeeper pointed to a
range of legal e-liquids on display before producing a large Cuban cigar box
brimming with illegal solutions. Selling this reporter a $12 vial that stated
''Apple'' on the side, the shopkeeper said: ''I do not know what is in it, but
nicotine definitely yes, medium strength I think. It's very popular.''
The Department of Health spokesman said on Friday there was
''no loophole'' allowing a flood of nicotine into Australia. ''Personal
importation … is permitted under the Therapeutic Goods Regulation 1989 under
very specific circumstances, which includes that a person attempting to import
nicotine must have a prescription from their doctor.''
But on Saturday he acknowledged that the department was now
talking to Customs ''about clarifying the statements currently on their
website''.
No comments:
Post a Comment