Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) temporarily blocked the introduction of heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products onto the Australian market, claiming they don’t help people quit smoking. The effort to introduce these products has been spearheaded by Philip Morris for its IQOS product.
TGA rejected the request by the company to reschedule nicotine under a law that would have helped get IQOS onto Australian shelves. In 2018, Philip Morris successfully fought the New Zealand government in court for the right to sell the products.
Philip Morris says HNB, which is different to vaping products have been approved for use in more than 50 countries. But TGA found they were of "no public health benefit”.
Philip Morris spokesman Simon Breheny said the decision was disappointing for Australia's three million smokers who had been denied access to less harmful alternatives. “It puts Australia at odds with many other countries who have decided to regulate heated tobacco and smoke free alternatives," he said.
TGA’s final decision on heat-not-burn products is due to be made in August.