DESPITE SOME INITIAL CONFUSION and misleading messaging, adult Australian vapers can legally purchase nicotine e-liquids from online pharmacies. However, a prescription is needed.
Clearing the confusion
Both the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) initially advised that online sales would be banned from 1 October 2024. It was stated that vaping products could only be supplied in person and could not be posted or delivered.
However, a closer review of the federal regulations has found that this advice was incorrect. There are no specific restrictions prohibiting online sales, as long as the customer has a valid prescription.
Online pharmacies
A handful of Australian online pharmacies are now dispensing nicotine e-liquids. I am not able to provide pharmacy names as the TGA regards that as ‘advertising’ and I am likely to be prosecuted! However, many can be found with a simple Google search.
Some online pharmacies now have a wide range of products, including pod vapes, vape pens and mods as well as premixed freebase and salt nicotine refills and pods in various strengths
Unfortunately, only tobacco, mint, menthol and unflavoured e-liquids are available, making these products very unappealing.
For most online pharmacies, you need to register onsite and order or upload a prescription before you can see the products available. This is a legal requirement as prescription products cannot be ‘advertised’.
The products are generally delivered via registered post, which requires a signature on delivery to comply with legal requirements.
Prescriptions are required
A prescription is required for all nicotine e-liquids >20mg/mL (Schedule 4 or S4 medicines). Many, but not all online pharmacies can arrange one if appropriate
The prescription is usually free or low-cost if you purchase your products from the pharmacy. Others charge a fee for the script if you wish to use it at other pharmacies.
You do not need a prescription to purchase empty vaping devices or accessories (i.e., the hardware).
Schedule 3 medicines not available online
Vapes with a nicotine concentration of ≤20mg/mL can be purchased from pharmacies without a prescription (Schedule 3 or S3 medicines). However, I am only aware of one online pharmacy that provides this service, because there are major barriers to online sale.
S3 vape products require a comprehensive consultation with the pharmacist, which is harder to arrange online.
In some states, the sale of S3 products is prevented by health department rules: (see here). For example, in NSW and the ACT, the pharmacist must “personally hand the medicine to the customer”, so online sales are not permitted.
Both Tasmania and WA have banned the sale of S3 vape products altogether.
Why it matters
The availability of vapes from online pharmacies is critical for Australian vapers. Very few brick-and-mortar pharmacies stock vaping products, leaving many vapers with limited access. This is particularly concerning for those living in rural areas, where local pharmacy options are even scarcer.
With this very limited access to online sales, many vapers may face the risk of relapsing to smoking. Most will continue to access unregulated vapes (with a wide variety of appealing flavours) from the black market.