Prescribing changes for nicotine vaping products
From 1 October 2021 access to nicotine vaping products will require a prescription.
Key points
- From 1 October 2021 Australians will require a prescription to legally access nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine vaping products for any purpose, including importing from overseas online retailers
- Nicotine vaping products are only available as ‘unapproved’ goods
- If considered the most clinically appropriate approach for smoking cessation, these products can be legally accessed with a valid prescription in three ways
Nicotine vaping products: practice implications of scheduling changes
From 1 October 2021 a prescription will be required for Australians to legally access nicotine vaping products for the purposes of smoking cessation, including importing from overseas online retailers. This regulatory change provides an opportunity for GPs to have conversations with patients about smoking cessation.
Pathways to prescribe
Nicotine vaping products are ‘unapproved’ therapeutic goods as they are not entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. This information sheet outlines the established pathways for legal access to ‘unapproved’ nicotine vaping products, with a prescription.