From today, therapeutic vaping products will be sold from behind pharmacy counters, nicotine concentrations and dispensing quantities will be tightly controlled, and they will have plain pharmaceutical-like packaging. Flavours are restricted to tobacco, menthol and mint, according to the press release.

Those 18 years or older that are looking to quit smoking will be able to buy vapes with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL or less without a prescription from participating pharmacies but must have a talk with the pharmacist first.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), has worked with the government to develop updated guidelines, education and training for pharmacists to support the government’s tobacco and vaping reforms with over 2,000 pharmacists attending a national webinar by the PSA. According to the press release, pharmacists will have automatic insurance coverage when supply vaping products for smoking and nicotine dependence.



Therapeutic vapes will have similar restrictions to other pharmacist-only products like pseudoephedrine, allergy and asthma medications. Pharmacists will be required to sight photo ID for age verification purposes and, crucially, have that important conversation around the health harms of vaping. From now on, the only lawful way to purchase a vape is through a pharmacy.