Home Our Health Vaping Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email What the Australian Government is doing about vaping Australian vaping laws and other action. Scroll down Title Is vaping illegal in Australia? Body Only pharmacies to sell vapes In June 2024 Federal Parliament passed a bill to make it unlawful to sell vapes outside a pharmacy. This is the most recent action to keep vapes out of reach of children. See a timeline of Australian Government action below, or get more answers on our Vaping quick facts page. Early May 2023 Landmark reforms announced The Australian Government announced comprehensive measures to reduce the significant damage caused by vaping, including banning the sale of all single use, disposable e-cigarettes. Mid May 2023 Federal Budget announcement With $737 million allocated towards reducing harm from the e-cigarette and tobacco industry November 2023 Ban on importation plan announced The Australian Government announced a plan to introduce a ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes from 1 January 2024 December 2023 Landmark tobacco legislation passed The Australian Government’s new Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 includes measures to update and improve graphic warnings on tobacco products, restricting the use of flavours and stopping advertising of e-cigarettes, and is a historic moment in the fight against Big Tobacco. December 2023 National Health and Medical Research Council funds researchers to help prevent vaping As the Australian Government’s primary health and medical research funding agency, the council allocated $2.2m towards developing evidence-based resources to prevent vaping and e-cigarette use; to monitor youth who vape and understand what products they use and what prompts them to stop; and to understand the impact of pro-vaping content on social media. January 2024 Importation ban comes into force The ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes came into force from 1 January 2024. January 2024 Vaping education resources launched 'Seeing through the haze' is a suite of free, evidence-based, curriculum-aligned vaping education resources for Victorian schools (years 7-10). To develop these resources, Quit Victoria worked in partnership with Monash University, VicHealth, the Victorian Department of Education, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), and the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Victoria. Read the media release. March 2024 Further import regulations take effect Landmark e-cigarette legislation introduced to Parliament, which will look to:Ban importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertising of all non-therapeutic and disposable vapes for retailers under a single national frameworkIntroduce new offences and civil penalty provisions for retailers of non-therapeutic and disposable vapesEnsure patient access to legitimate therapeutic vapes through pharmacy settings and under appropriate health practitioner supervisionVicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio gave evidence in Parliament to support these regulations: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parliament of Victoria (@victorianparliament) June 2024 Legislation passes through Parliament World-leading vaping legislation passed through Australian Parliament. These changes included:Keeping vapes out of reach of children by banning and restricting importation, manufacturing and supply.Supporting adults to quit smoking by restricting access by ensuring vapes can only be sold in pharmacies following a conversation with a pharmacist. Putting a stop to the predatory marketing and advertising of vapes to kids and young people.Introducing penalties for non-pharmacy retailers who possess vapes, while ensuring individuals are not punished. 1 July 2024 New vaping legislation comes into effect From 1 July 2024:You need to see a doctor and get a prescription in order to buy a vape. Vapes can only be legally sold in a pharmacy via prescription.Learn more via the Therapeutic Goods Administration website. 1 October 2024 Further legislation changes come into effect From 1 October 2024:Adults over the age of 18 can buy a vape from a pharmacy following a consultation with a pharmacist.Anyone under the age of 18 will need to see a doctor and obtain a prescription in order to buy a vape. Vapes can only be legally sold in a pharmacy. Learn more via the Therapeutic Goods Administration website. 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