The Australian Senate is set to pass a bill that will see the end of all vape sales – regardless of nicotine content – from general retailers. From July 1, non-nicotine vapes will no longer be permitted for sale outside of pharmacies. But late amendments to the bill, negotiated by the Greens , change how people will be able to access vapes in the future.
When the bill is passed – and for the first three months – people will need a prescription from a medical practitioner to access vapes from their local pharmacy. Then, from October 1 2024, people who wish to use a vape for therapeutic purposes will no longer require a prescription. Instead, they will be able to directly purchase a vape from a pharmacy.
Vaping products will be kept behind the counter and only available for purchase with identification to show users are aged over 18. Vapes sold in pharmacies will be subject to quality and product standards including plain packaging, maximum nicotine concentration levels, and will continue to only be available in mint/menthol and tobacco favours. It’s disappointing the prescription requirement is being removed.
This weakens control of a highly addictive and unsafe product. The bill had wide support from the public health sector and was based on evidence and research showing that preventing easy access to vapes is essential to protecting the health of young people. At the same time, the amended bill is a clear improvement on the current situation, where vapes retailers .
