Currently, state and territory laws throughout Australia make the sale and possession of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and e-juices illegal, except for South Australia. However, by mid-year, with a doctor’s prescription, many Australians will now gain access to the products they need to help them transition away from combustible cigarettes. Continue reading to learn more about this interim decision to reclassify nicotine as a prescription-only medication.
What was the decision?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that nicotine-containing e-cigs and e-juices would become prescription-only from June 2021. The following changes would also affect heat-not-burn tobacco products, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other novel nicotine products.
The changes mean that while vapers can still buy e-cigs and other nicotine-containing products online from their usual supplier, they will now be required to have a prescription to receive their purchased items. E-cig users are also able to fill their prescriptions at their local community pharmacies and have products shipped to the store on their behalf.
How to import your favorite e-cig products into Australia
Under the new law, you can legally import nicotine-containing e-cigarettes (or nicotine-containing liquids for use in e-cigarettes), under the Personal Importation Scheme, provided all the appropriate rules are followed:
- The product(s) must only be used to help you quit smoking.
- You must have a current valid prescription from an Australian-registered medical practitioner.
- You can only import nicotine-containing products for personal use. However, you can arrange to import these products for your immediate family, provided that the member you’re purchasing for holds a valid prescription.
- You can only import up to 3 months’ supply at a time under the Personal Importation Scheme. If you wish to buy more e-cigs and e-liquid refills online, your doctor will need to apply for and gain TGA approval.
You should also be aware that there are some additional limitations to importing your e-cig products, including:
- Under state and territory law, nicotine is still considered to be a scheduled poison. This means that any product or substance that is a therapeutic good and imported under the Personal Importation Scheme must also be legal within the state or territory you reside in.
While vape-ecigs.com is excited to offer vapers a range of e-cig products with varying nicotine concentration levels to cater to transitioning smokers, please remember that it’s your responsibility to follow the above rules if you’re placing an online order to be shipped to Australia. Even if you inadvertently break the law, you will be wasting your money on products that will not be delivered. Thank you for your understanding and happy shopping!
What are your thoughts on e-cigs as prescription-only items? Please comment below to start a conversation.
The post Starting this June, e-cigs to become prescription-only items in Australia appeared first on Blog Vape-Ecigs.