Calls for Prescription Only Sales of E-cigarettes in Australia

Mar.14.2023
Calls for Prescription Only Sales of E-cigarettes in Australia
Australia may ban all commercial sales of e-cigarettes and restrict them to pharmacies with prescriptions to reduce teen vaping.

On March 14th, according to a report from the Daily Mail, Associate Professor Becky Freeman from the University of Sydney in Australia published an article in the journal Public Health Research and Practice stating that only pharmacies should be allowed to sell imported e-cigarettes, and these e-cigarettes should only be available for prescription needs related to quitting smoking. Freeman also stated that the only way for Australia to rid itself of nicotine e-cigarettes is to ban all commercial sales of e-cigarettes.


According to 2FIRSTS, as of October 2021, Australia will prohibit the import of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes without a prescription. However, Professor Freeman states that local retailers, manufacturers, and importers in Australia still label nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes as nicotine-free in order to secretly bring them into the Australian market.


Professor Freeman stated that legal importation of nicotine-free e-cigarettes is a loophole for importers, while a complete ban on their importation would protect young people. However, it may be acceptable to allow the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation purposes, but this would require a prescription from a doctor.


She added that the decrease in the number of nicotine e-cigarettes entering Australia will make enforcing existing laws easier.


According to a survey launched by the Australian Department of Health in 2022, one-third of adolescents aged 14 to 17 have tried vaping.


The Queensland Parliament in Australia is set to introduce new legislation on Tuesday that will seek to crack down on illegal nicotine products, establish more smoke-free areas, and restrict the sale of tobacco in licensed venues.


Related reading;


Queensland, Australia initiates an investigation into electronic cigarettes with potential changes to related legislation.


Reference:


Obtaining and Usage of E-Cigarette Products Among Adolescents Aged 14-17: A Cross-Sectional Study.


There are growing demands to prohibit the sale of all vaping products in Australia, except when prescribed by a doctor to assist patients in quitting smoking.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Philippines DOH reiterates: vaping is not safer than smoking, citing irreversible health risks
Philippines DOH reiterates: vaping is not safer than smoking, citing irreversible health risks
The Philippine Department of Health reiterated Saturday that vaping should not be promoted as an alternative to cigarette smoking, Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa said in a radio interview, according to the Tribune. Herbosa said both vaping and smoking pose irreversible health risks and cited E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), claiming it led to the death of a 22-year-old male with no smoking history in 2025.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australian Government and Spotify Launch Third Phase of Youth Vaping Education Campaign
Australian Government and Spotify Launch Third Phase of Youth Vaping Education Campaign
The Australian Government and Spotify have launched the third phase of the Youth Vaping Education Campaign under the theme “Buddy Up – Make a Pact to Quit Together.” This phase shifts the focus toward peer and community support by encouraging young people to quit vaping together.
Apr.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
ELFBAR Resolves Global Dispute Over "ELF" Trademark with VPR Brands LP
ELFBAR Resolves Global Dispute Over "ELF" Trademark with VPR Brands LP
ELFBAR announces global settlement with VPR Brands LP over "ELF" trademark dispute, covering major markets like US, Canada, UK.
Apr.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
GEEK BAR to Return to the European Market: Launches the SPARK Pod System
GEEK BAR to Return to the European Market: Launches the SPARK Pod System
GEEK BAR announced its return to the European market and the release of its pod-based product, SPARK, which will begin rolling out across select European countries starting in March. SPARK features a battery-status display interface and a fast-charging battery. It offers a 1.1Ω prefilled pod (up to approximately 1,000 puffs) and a 0.8Ω refillable pod, along with multiple new flavors tailored for Europe.
Mar.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Ireland’s 2026 amendment bill to regulate nicotine pouches and tighten rules on vaping products
Ireland’s 2026 amendment bill to regulate nicotine pouches and tighten rules on vaping products
The Irish government has approved the publication of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026. The bill would ban the sale of nicotine consumption products such as nicotine pouches to those under 18 and further regulate nicotine vaping products.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nebraska weighs child-safety lock requirement for vapes sold in the state
Nebraska weighs child-safety lock requirement for vapes sold in the state
Nebraska lawmakers heard testimony on LB1254, which would require electronic smoking devices sold in the state to include built-in child safety features. Violations would be a Class IV misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $500. Supporters argued young children can easily activate unprotected devices by inhaling, risking exposure to nicotine and other toxic chemicals, and said safeguards should mirror child-resistant measures used for medications and other household products.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai