Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid containing chemicals (called ‘e-liquid’) to produce an aerosol that users inhale (a process known as vaping). Every e-liquid is different and usually contains a number of chemicals that can be harmful1. E-liquids can contain nicotine, even when labelled ‘nicotine free’1.

CEO Statement on Electronic Cigarettes

The intent of the CEO Statement on Electronic Cigarettes (the CEO Statement) is to provide Australians with up-to-date information on e-cigarettes, including what the research says about the safety and potential health implications of e-cigarettes, the efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, and the potential impacts of e-cigarette sponsorship, advertising, and promotion.

The CEO Statement and supporting documentation can be viewed in the CEO Statement tab at the top of this page. A summary of the CEO Statement can be viewed in the CEO Statement Summary tab.

The updated CEO Statement has been informed by an evaluation of the latest and best available scientific evidence. Information about how the CEO Statement was developed can be found in the CEO Statement Development tab.

The Electronic Cigarettes Working Committee (the Committee) was established on 5 June 2020 to oversee the development of the CEO Statement. Information about the Committee, including membership, can be found at Previous Committees and Advisory Groups.

E-cigarette related resources, including links to QUIT services, can be found in the Resources tab.

Research funded by NHMRC

High-quality research on e-cigarettes is needed. NHMRC is currently funding a number of studies investigating the:

  • efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid, including amongst disadvantaged and vulnerable populations
  • health impacts of e-cigarettes use
  • patterns and use of e-cigarettes, including uptake of e-cigarettes in children and adolescents and potential impact of e-cigarettes on smoking uptake.

Since 2011, NHMRC has funded 16 grants, committing over $15.3 million for research into e-cigarettes.

 

1National Health and Medical Research Council. CEO Statement: Electronic Cigarettes. [Internet]. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council; June 2022. Available from CEO Statement tab.