Who we are: Therapeutic Vapes Australia is an information and retail business. We are not a pharmacy and we cannot supply therapeutic vapes. Only an Australian registered pharmacy can do that. This page explains how the pharmacy pathway works so you know what to expect. It is general information, not medical advice.
Most people have never had this conversation before and are not sure what they are walking into. Here is the sequence, based on what the TGA requires a pharmacist to do.
1. You ask at the counter
You do not need an appointment at most pharmacies, though busy ones may ask you to come back. Ask to speak to the pharmacist rather than a counter assistant. This is a consultation the pharmacist has to conduct personally.
2. You move somewhere private
Most pharmacies have a consultation room or a quiet corner. This is a health conversation, not a purchase, and it is treated that way.
3. You show ID
The pharmacist is required to request and sight evidence of your identity and age. Bring a driver licence, passport or proof-of-age card. Without it, they cannot supply.
4. They ask about your smoking and your health
Expect questions along these lines:
- How much do you smoke, and for how long?
- Have you tried to quit before? What did you use?
- What other medicines do you take?
- Do you have any heart, lung or mental health conditions?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
None of this is a test you can fail. The pharmacist is working out whether supply is clinically appropriate, which is a judgement they are required to make.
5. They discuss the alternatives
This step is mandatory. The pharmacist must give you advice about registered alternative therapies, patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray, inhalators, and prescription medicines. Those products have been assessed by the TGA for quality, safety and efficacy. Therapeutic vapes have not.
6. They explain the ARTG position and ask for consent
One thing worth knowing before you start: no vaping product for smoking cessation or nicotine dependence is currently on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). None has been assessed by the TGA for quality, safety or efficacy. Products supplied through pharmacies are “unapproved therapeutic goods”, which is why a pharmacist has to tell you that and get your consent before supplying one.
You will be asked to confirm you understand this. That is the informed consent step, and it is not a formality. It is the legal basis on which an unapproved good can be supplied to you.
7. If they supply, it is one month at most
The pharmacist must not supply more than one month’s worth in any one month. There is no bulk purchase, and stockpiling is not available through this pathway.
They might say no
A pharmacist can decline if they are not satisfied supply is clinically appropriate. They may suggest starting with registered nicotine replacement therapy, or refer you to your GP. That is the system working as designed, not an obstacle to route around.
If you want free, expert support at any point, Quitline is available on 13 7848 and costs nothing.
Sources
- TGA: Vapes: information for individuals and patients
- TGA: Changes to the regulation of vapes
- TGA: Supplying therapeutic vapes in pharmacies
Last checked: 3 September 2026. Regulations change. Always confirm current requirements with the TGA or your pharmacist.