Further restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes are to be introduced across Australia following a pledge to eliminate the public health threat, it was reported today.

Banning e-cigarette flavors, placing warning labels on individual product packaging and introducing licenses for importers to bring e-cigarettes into the country are the latest recommendations from the Therapeutic Goods Authority.

Last year, tests conducted by the National Health and Medical Research Council found that e-cigarettes could contain hundreds of dangerous chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish removers, herbicides and insecticides.

The health minister, Mark Butler, said on Thursday that all of the country's health ministers - Labor, Liberal, state and Territory and federal - had indicated they were determined to eradicate this public health threat.

He added that the recommendations would provide a range of options that could be considered for future reform.

They will propose a range of options, from border controls to how these things are sold, banning flavors, banning colors, the health minister said.

Most state and territory governments have backed a new measure that would make it easier for border forces to seize products by requiring anyone importing e-cigarettes to have a licence.

There was also strong support for warning statements, packaging of similar drugs, limiting taste and limiting nicotine content.

However, e-cigarette advocates strongly oppose further restrictions by Tobacco Harm Reduction Australia, arguing that e-cigarettes remain an important tool in helping smokers quit.

The TGA refutes these claims and their recommendations have been praised by a number of public health associations, health professionals, university researchers and Australian pharmacies.

Australian Medical Association President Professor Steve Robson said the government needed to consider implementing new reforms as soon as possible.

"The Australian government needs to take action now to enforce existing laws to clamp down on illegal over-the-counter e-cigarette sales and tighten import controls on all nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarette products." He told the Guardian. .

Although Australia continues to adopt a prescription-based approach in 2021, a thriving black market continues to supply nicotine to young people.

The TGA rejected 4,000 public submissions, including from retailers, to scrap the prescribing model - declaring changes to the regulatory framework outside its scope.

Health Secretary Mark Butler said the problem with e-cigarettes was that they were often sold illegally.

"The only legal way to sell nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia is through a prescription from a doctor to a pharmacy." 'he said.

"However, convenience stores, gas stations often sell nicotine e-cigarettes that pretend to be nicotine-free and, more insidiously, sell them to children."

He also expressed concern that e-cigarettes offer a pathway back to cigarettes.

He added: 'With all the measures we have taken in recent decades to reduce smoking rates, this is the way back to cigarettes.' We are determined to ensure that we do not create a new generation of nicotine addicts.