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Nicotine vaping products: Information for consumers
21 October 2021
This page provides an overview of how consumers can legally access nicotine vaping products to help quit smoking, where appropriate.
Nicotine vaping products require a prescription
From 1 October 2021, consumers require a prescription for all purchases of nicotine vaping products, such as nicotine e-cigarettes, nicotine pods and liquid nicotine. This includes purchases from Australian pharmacies and from overseas. It remains illegal for other Australian retailers, such as tobacconists, 'vape' shops and convenience stores, to sell you nicotine vaping products, even if you have a prescription.
These regulatory changes balance the need to prevent adolescents and young adults from taking-up nicotine vaping (and potentially smoking), while enabling current smokers to access these products for smoking cessation with appropriate medical advice. Nicotine vaping products can only be legally used by the person named on the prescription.
Nicotine replacement therapies (including sprays, patches, lozenges, chews and gums) that do not require a prescription will continue to be available from pharmacies and some retail outlets.
Watch this video to learn more about the changes and how you can legally access nicotine vaping products:
Download our consumer fact sheet on the regulatory changes.
Speak to your doctor about quitting smoking
It's important that you speak to your doctor about your smoking cessation options. They will discuss the various options available to help you quit smoking, including prescription medicines, nicotine replacement therapies and support services. You can also phone the Quitline on 13 7848 or visit the Quit Now website.
Nicotine vaping products should not be the first smoking cessation approach you try.
If you have unsuccessfully tried other approaches to smoking cessation, your doctor might consider it appropriate to prescribe you a nicotine vaping product. Your doctor is under no obligation to prescribe you a nicotine vaping product if they do not think it is appropriate.
How to access a nicotine vaping product if your doctor thinks it is a suitable smoking cessation treatment for you
If your doctor thinks that a nicotine vaping product may help you to quit smoking you will need a prescription to access the products through an Australian pharmacy (Authorised Prescriber Scheme or Special Access Scheme) or from an overseas website (Personal Importation Scheme).
I am going to purchase my nicotine vaping product from an Australian pharmacy.
I will order my nicotine vaping product from an overseas website.
Remember - you can also phone the Quitline on 13 7848 or visit the Quit Now website to discuss the various options available to help you quit smoking, including prescription medicines, nicotine replacement therapies and support services.
The flow chart below illustrates the steps involved in legal access to nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia.
Report side effects and problems
We strongly encourage consumers and health professionals to report any suspected side effects related to nicotine vaping products.
The TGA has an important role in monitoring the safety of 'unapproved' products. Reporting side effects and problems helps us to understand the safety of a product. We investigate significant safety concerns as part of ensuring product safety in the Australian community.
Seek urgent medical attention for suspected poisonings
Nicotine vaping products can have toxic and sometimes severe effects if ingested or through exposure to the skin or eyes. Please seek urgent medical attention if you think that you, or anyone else, may have been exposed to or ingested a nicotine vaping product. Emergency services can be contacted by calling 000 and the Poisons Information Centre can be contacted by calling 131 126.
Reporting perceived breaches or questionable practices
We encourage you to report any perceived breach of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 or questionable practices in relation to the import, manufacture, supply, export or advertising of nicotine vaping products to the TGA. This includes the sale of nicotine vaping products by a retailer other than a pharmacist (e.g. by a vape store).
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra