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Tobacco product regulation and disclosure

Overview of tobacco product regulation and disclosure in Australia.

Current measures in Australia

In 2000, the Department of Health and Ageing negotiated a voluntary agreement for the disclosure of the ingredients of cigarettes with the three tobacco companies, Philip Morris Limited, British American Tobacco Australia Limited and Imperial Tobacco Australia Limited.

In 2001, the three tobacco manufacturers, Philip Morris Limited, British American Tobacco Australia and Imperial Tobacco Australia Ltd, agreed to undertake cigarette emissions testing of selected Australian cigarette brand variants on a one-off basis and to supply the results to the department within the spirit of the voluntary agreement for the disclosure of ingredients of cigarettes.

Since September 2010, all cigarettes in Australia are required to meet a reduced fire propensity standard and packaging is required to state this.

Related links

• Australian cigarette ingredient disclosure
• Australian cigarette emissions data
• Reduced-ignition propensity cigarettes

Current projects

Disclosure project

This project has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing, to examine the scientific, technical, and practical feasibility of regulating the disclosure of tobacco product ingredients and emissions data in Australia.
The research findings will inform the Government’s consideration of options to implement Article 10 of the WHO FCTC . Article 10 relates to the regulation of tobacco product disclosure.

Palatability project

This project has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing to assist in the preparation of a literature review and associated research to better understand the relationship between tobacco product ingredients, palatability and smoking behaviour.

The research findings will inform the Government’s consideration of options to implement Article 9 of the WHO FCTC . Article 9 relates to the regulation of tobacco product contents and emissions.

Project to support the implementation of guidelines under Articles 9 and 10 of the WHO FCTC

This project involves the development of a regulation impact statement on options for the further implementation of guidelines under Articles 9 and 10 of the WHO FCTC and will be informed by the findings of the disclosure and palatability projects.

The project involves consultation with key stakeholders, including the tobacco industry, non-government organisations with expertise/interest in tobacco control, Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies and the Consumers Health Forum.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems and smokeless tobacco project

This project involves the development of a regulation impact statement on options for further regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as electronic cigarettes) and smokeless tobacco. This work is in progress.