Nicotine regulations are changing - vaping

We want to help you quit smoking

Capital Chemist pharmacies each have the individual choice of whether to supply Pharmacist-Only vapes to consumers from 1^st October 2024. The long-term impacts of vaping are not fully known, and as healthcare professionals we always put the health of patients as our primary responsibility and concern.

Pharmacies may only supply Pharmacist-Only vapes to a consumer for the purpose of quitting nicotine containing products, in other words to reduce use until the consumer no longer uses these products; or to help manage nicotine dependence.

From 1 October 2024, vaping products with nicotine concentrations of 20 mg/mL or less can be supplied without a prescription as Pharmacist-Only products, subject to pharmacist assessment and guidance, ask your pharmacist the cost of the consultation. 
Vapes containing 20 mg/mL or less are low dose and suit a person who vapes or smokes the equivalent of 10 cigarettes per day.

Note that your pharmacist must by law ask you for identification at the time of supply and can only provide one month’s worth of vaping product in any given month.

The pharmacist can only supply to people 18 years and older, must record the supply as a pharmacy record and on the TGA’s SAS-C portal, will ask you to sign a consent form which contains legally required information and can only supply directly (face to face) the actual person requiring the vaping product.

This process, including the consultation, must be repeated every time a patient purchases a supply regardless of how often or how well known they are to the pharmacist.

From 1 October 2024, a prescription will still be required for patients wishing to access a vape greater than 20mg/mL or for a patient aged under 18 years.

With respect to vapes

There are no Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved products in Australia that have a proven safety and efficacy profile. However, we believe that quitting smoking is an excellent step towards better health. We do have a range of products available to help smokers to quit, including gums, sprays, inhalers, patches and low dose vapes.

For heavy smokers, your doctor is best placed to guide you to stop smoking using vapes and they can prescribe higher dose products. They have access to your full medical history and the ability to monitor you through appropriate tests and scans to assess the impact vaping has on your body over time. 

To access additional assistance call Quitline on 137 848

Capital Chemist can help you to quit smoking. We do this by

• offering pharmacist consultations and follow-up
• using the most up-to-date information on nicotine replacement therapy
• performing regular checks to monitor your progress
• determining your level of nicotine addiction and designing a treatment regime just for you

We can also assist you (in conjunction with your GP) to maximise your chances of success with the prescription products available to assist with smoking cessation.