Vaping reforms - public information session - January 2024

TGA Australia・2 minutes read

The Australian government is implementing comprehensive vaping reforms, including bans on non-therapeutic vapes, import restrictions, and new regulations to protect public health. These reforms aim to safeguard Australians, particularly youth, from the dangers of vaping while ensuring access to legitimate medical vapes and implementing educational campaigns.

Insights

  • Bridget Gilmore Walsh leads the TGA's vaping reform efforts in Australia, aiming to ban non-therapeutic vapes while ensuring access to medical vapes, with a focus on protecting young people from vaping harms.
  • The TGA's comprehensive vaping reforms include import restrictions, product standards, advertising requirements, and a phased approach to banning non-therapeutic vapes, with campaigns targeting adults, at-risk smokers, and youth through tailored messaging and educational activities.

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Recent questions

  • What are the recent vaping reforms in Australia?

    The Australian government has announced reforms to ban all vapes in Australia except therapeutic vapes used for medical purposes. These reforms aim to protect Australians, especially young people, from the harms of vaping while ensuring access to vapes for legitimate medical reasons. Regulatory changes in October 2021 made all nicotine vapes prescription medicines to prevent misuse. Import restrictions on vapes were imposed on January 1, 2024, with further restrictions scheduled for March 1, 2024. The reforms will prohibit the importation of non-therapeutic vapes and introduce new product standards and advertising requirements.

  • How can prescribers access unapproved therapeutic vapes?

    Doctors and nurse practitioners can prescribe unapproved therapeutic vapes through established pathways without TGA pre-approval. Prescribers must stay updated on lawful vape products on the TGA website for prescribing. Pharmacists can dispense unapproved vapes prescribed by authorized prescribers or through specific pathways. A new validation tool helps pharmacists confirm the validity of approvals for dispensing therapeutic vapes. Lists of compliant vape products will be published by the TGA for easy identification by pharmacists.

  • What are the restrictions on importing vapes into Australia?

    Stricter quantity limits for vapes when entering Australia by boat or airplane are set at two vapes, two vape accessories, and 200 ml of vaping liquid. Disposable vapes quantity limits apply from January 1, and all other vapes from March 1. Import regulations for vapes will change, with a ban on non-therapeutic vapes and vaping devices starting on March 1st. Importers and manufacturers must comply with new requirements for therapeutic vapes, with a transition period for existing stock until mid-2024.

  • How will the vaping reforms impact retailers in Australia?

    Tobacconist vape shops and convenience stores will no longer sell vapes in Australia once reforms are fully implemented. The reforms will prohibit the importation of non-therapeutic vapes and introduce new product standards and advertising requirements. Import restrictions on vapes were imposed on January 1, 2024, with further restrictions scheduled for March 1, 2024. Importers and manufacturers must comply with new requirements for therapeutic vapes, with a transition period for existing stock until mid-2024.

  • What campaigns are planned to address vaping in Australia?

    Two campaigns are planned: a refresh of the national tobacco campaign to include e-cigarettes and a National Youth vaping education campaign. The campaigns target adults and at-risk smokers, as well as youth, with tailored messaging and activities. Both campaigns will utilize advertising on television, radio, and audio platforms, with the youth vaping campaign incorporating educational activities for youth. Expected launch for both campaigns is in the first half of the year, with a focus on aligning with the new school year.

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Summary

00:00

Vaping Reforms: Protecting Australians, Restricting Access

  • Bridget Gilmore Walsh, the principal label and policy advisor for the TGA, is responsible for vaping reform within the organization.
  • The session aims to provide an overview of the vaping reforms and their impact on consumers, prescribers, pharmacists, retailers, importers, manufacturers, and others.
  • The Australian government has announced reforms to ban all vapes in Australia except therapeutic vapes used for medical purposes.
  • The reforms aim to protect Australians, especially young people, from the harms of vaping while ensuring access to vapes for legitimate medical reasons.
  • Regulatory changes in October 2021 made all nicotine vapes prescription medicines to prevent misuse.
  • The TGA conducted a public consultation in late 2022 to refine the vaping regulations due to enforcement difficulties and health risks associated with vapes.
  • Import restrictions on vapes were imposed on January 1, 2024, with further restrictions scheduled for March 1, 2024.
  • The reforms will prohibit the importation of non-therapeutic vapes and introduce new product standards and advertising requirements.
  • The second stage of reforms, subject to legislation, will ban the domestic supply, advertising, and possession of non-therapeutic and disposable vapes.
  • The third stage of reforms, planned for later in the year, will increase regulatory standards for unapproved vaping products, including plain packaging and lower nicotine concentrations.

19:10

Australia Implements Stricter Vape Regulations and Limits

  • Stricter quantity limits for vapes when entering Australia by boat or airplane, set at two vapes, two vape accessories, and 200 ml of vaping liquid.
  • Disposable vapes quantity limits apply from January 1, and all other vapes from March 1.
  • No therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation are on the Australian register of therapeutic goods.
  • Doctors and nurse practitioners can prescribe unapproved therapeutic vapes through established pathways without TGA pre-approval.
  • Prescribers must stay updated on lawful vape products on the TGA website for prescribing.
  • Pharmacists can dispense unapproved vapes prescribed by authorized prescribers or through specific pathways.
  • A new validation tool helps pharmacists confirm the validity of approvals for dispensing therapeutic vapes.
  • Lists of compliant vape products will be published by the TGA for easy identification by pharmacists.
  • Tobacconist vape shops and convenience stores will no longer sell vapes in Australia once reforms are fully implemented.
  • Importers and manufacturers must comply with new requirements for therapeutic vapes, with a transition period for existing stock until mid-2024.

38:15

National campaigns target tobacco and vaping education.

  • Two campaigns are planned: a refresh of the national tobacco campaign to include e-cigarettes and a National Youth vaping education campaign.
  • The campaigns target adults and at-risk smokers, as well as youth, with tailored messaging and activities.
  • Both campaigns will utilize advertising on television, radio, and audio platforms, with the youth vaping campaign incorporating educational activities for youth.
  • Expected launch for both campaigns is in the first half of the year, with a focus on aligning with the new school year.
  • Legislation will not criminalize personal use of vapes, with proposed offenses for commercial purposes and exceptions for personal use.
  • Import regulations for vapes will change, with a ban on non-therapeutic vapes and vaping devices starting on March 1st.
  • The TGA will not conduct pre-market assessments but will receive notifications of compliance with standards from manufacturers and importers.
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