October 2025: TGA issues a warning to online delivery service providers not to breach the laws regarding the supply and advertising of vaping products
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued a warning to online delivery service providers not to breach the Australian laws regarding the supply and advertising of vaping goods. Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, advertising vapes directly to the public is prohibited. Vapes can only be sold through pharmacies, and it is unlawful for tobacconists or convenience stores to supply any kind of vaping product, with or without a prescription. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties, including fines up to A$2.31 million for individuals and A$23.1 million for corporations, or up to 7 years in jail.
The TGA actively monitors, detects and disrupts unlawful advertising of vaping products. Following complaints of unlawful promotion and sale of vaping products on food delivery platforms, the TGA worked with two well-known companies to identify and remove non-compliant material. Moreover, in 2024–25, the TGA requested the removal of more than 13,700 advertisements or online profiles, including over 8,500 related to nicotine and vaping products. Enforcement action is also taken where required, including issuing infringement notices, seizing unlawful goods, and initiating civil or criminal court proceedings.
July 2025: Vapes are three times more effective than NRTs for smoking cessation
According to a recently published study1, vapes are more effective than NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) for smoking cessation among socially disadvantaged people in Australia. Researchers conducted two-group, randomized trial among 1,045 adult smokers receiving a government pension / allowance (as a proxy for social disadvantage). Smoking rates among people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are up to three times higher than the general population. The primary outcome of the research was 6-month continuous smoking abstinence verified using a carbon monoxide breath test at 7-month follow-up. The verified 6-month continuous abstinence rate was 9.6% in the NRT group and 28.4% in the vapes group. Moreover, self-reported adverse events occurred less frequently in the vape group (1.5 events per participant) compared with the NRT group (1.6 events per participant). Reserachers conclude that vapes present a promising treatment option for socially disadvantaged people, a priority group for smoking cessation. It is already known that vapes are more effective than NRT for smoking cessation in general population.
July 2025: Vaping rates among the youth declined to 14.6% in Australia
A year after the ban on disposable vapes came into effect in July 2024, vaping rates among 14 to 17 year olds fell from 17.5% at the start of 2023 to 14.6% in April 2025, according to the latest nationwide Generation Vape study. The survey also found that the vaping incidence for people aged over 15 reduced by more than a third. Australian Health Minister stated that vaping rates for young Australians “have now turned the corner” and the “peak of vaping” is behind Australia as more than 10 million illegal vapes were seized in 2024 (a minuscule amount compared to the total consumption) and education & prevention campaigns are making a difference.
The latest Generation Vape survey found that 85.4% of children aged between 14 to 17 had never vaped. Only less than a third of those teenagers expressed an interest in vaping which represents a drop in curiosity about the products. Attitudes towards vaping among school-age children are changing as many current or former vapers expressing a sense of shame or embarrassment about their vape use during the interviews. Moreover, fewer teenagers repor that they’re able to buy vapes themselves.
Considering that 99% of the vape market in Australia is illegal and all kinds of vapes (including disposables) are widely available across the country, it is likely that a combination of “fading novelty” effect and a surge in the popularity of nicotine pouches (also illegal) drive the decline in youth vape use more than anything else.
July 2025: New data revealed that 99% of the vapes sold in Australia is illegal
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has received just 40,000 Special Access Scheme (SAS) notifications for vaping products sold without a prescription from 2,000 pharmacists from October 1, 2024 to May 30, 2025. However, authorized vape sales volume could be higher as SAS notification data don’t include the cases where therapeutic vape is prescribed by a health practitioner and multiple-unit sales can be dispensed as part of a single notification. Nevertheless, in comparison to the 7 million illegal vapes sezied by the Australian Border Force in 2024 alone, legal vape sales volume remains minuscule in Australia.
To help expand access to vapes beyond prescription-only, Australia allowed pharmacists under the SAS notification pathway to supply vapes with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL or less to people 18 years or over without a prescription, subject to certain conditions and state and territory law, from October 1, 2024. However, of 38,000 pharmacists across the country, only 2,000 logged an SAS notification to sell vape products without a prescription. Also, around 3,000 – out of more than 39,000 general practitioners in Australia – are approved to date as Authorised Prescribers (APs) of vape products.
June 2025: New standards on vapes come into effect on July 1, 2025
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that strengthened safety and quality standards for (therapeutic) vapes will come into effect on July 1, 2025 in Australia – where vapes are allowed only for smoking cessation & nicotine dependence relief (therapeutic purposes) and recreational (non-therapeutic) vapes are prohibited. Pharmacies will be allowed to supply only the vapes that meet the TGA’s strengthened product standards. An estimated 95%-99% of the vapes sold in Australia is illegal (i.e. for recreational purposes and outside the pharmacies).
As part of the new regulation on vaping goods (in effect since July 1, 2024), TGA published enhanced product standards for therapeutic vapes in October 2024 and offered manufacturers around 9 months to update their products for compliance. The new measures include stricter requirements for ingredients, packaging, and labelling. Ingredients permitted in vapes are limited to nicotine (max 50mg/mL), propylene glycol, glycerol, water, mint, menthol or tobacco flavour. The new rules also require plain design & packaging, proper labelling, name restrictions, information leaflets, and instructions to use. Moreover, devices and accessories must meet stricter standards for medical device quality (including design & construction), risk management, electrical safety and toxicological risk assessment. Products that do not meet the new standards will be removed from the notified vape list and may be replaced by new products that have been stated to comply with the new standards.
Currently, the TGA has not received an application for a vape product to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). This means that the TGA has not evaluated any therapeutic vaping good for safety, quality, effectiveness, or performance2.
Meanwhile, TGA does not recommend vapes as the first-line treatment for smoking cessation support. First-line treatments include behavioural support and TGA-approved nicotine replacement therapy – external site products such as patches, gum, and lozenges – some of which are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
June 2025: Vaping is on the rise in Australia
Between 2019 and 2023, Australia experienced the steepest decline in smoking rates in the past 30 years, with the share of adults smoking falling from 11.6% to 8.8%. In the same period, vaping rate increased from 2.5% to 7% (among 14+)3. Young adults (18-24 years old) have the highest vaping prevalence with 20.6% – a figure that is almost quadrupled from 2019 to 2023 and forced Australia to implement stringent regulatory measures against vaping. In effect since July 1, 2024, the impact of the new regulation – amid a rampant illicit vape market – is yet to be seen.
References:
