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.
Australia changed how vapes are supplied in 2024. They are no longer general retail products. Under the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act 2024, therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation or nicotine dependence can only be dispensed at an Australian registered pharmacy.
That single change is the source of most of the confusion people have. This page explains the pathway in plain English.
Do you need a prescription?
It depends on three things: your age, the nicotine concentration, and whether your situation is medically straightforward.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| 18 or over, nicotine 20 mg/mL or less | No prescription. A pharmacist can supply after a consultation. |
| 18 or over, nicotine above 20 mg/mL | Prescription required from a medical or nurse practitioner. |
| Under 18 | Prescription required, where state and territory law allows. |
| Complex medical needs | Prescription required, so you get the additional advice and support. |
20 mg/mL is the line that matters. At or below it, and if you are an adult without complicating factors, you can talk to a pharmacist directly. Above it, you need a prescriber first.
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.
What the pharmacist has to do
Supply without a prescription is not simply handing over a product. The TGA requires the pharmacist to complete five things before supplying:
- Be satisfied that supply is clinically appropriate for smoking cessation or managing nicotine dependence.
- Request and sight evidence of your identity and age.
- Tell you the product is not on the ARTG, and obtain your informed consent.
- Give you professional advice on alternative registered therapies, appropriate dose and frequency, and interactions with your other medicines.
- Ensure the quantity supplied does not exceed one month’s supply in any one month.
Point 4 is worth reading twice. The pharmacist is required to discuss registered alternatives with you, patches, gum, lozenges, sprays and prescription medicines that have actually been assessed for safety and efficacy. A vape is not the default option in that conversation.
What to bring
- Photo ID. Not optional. The pharmacist is legally required to sight it.
- A list of your current medicines, so interactions can be checked.
- Your smoking history, roughly how much, for how long, and what you have already tried.
- A prescription, if your situation falls into one of the rows above that needs one.
Not every pharmacy participates
Pharmacies choose whether to supply therapeutic vapes, and many have decided not to. Several large chains do not stock them. There is no obligation on any pharmacy to participate, so availability varies considerably by location. Phoning ahead saves a wasted trip.
Where this leaves general retailers
They are out of it entirely. General retailers, convenience stores, tobacconists and online vape shops cannot lawfully supply therapeutic vapes to Australian consumers. The Act also prohibits the importation, manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertising of disposable single-use and non-therapeutic vapes.
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.