Australia: Nicotine Vapes Available by Prescription Only

It has recently been reported that to address existing loopholes, the TGA has made a temporary decision to allow nicotine in electronic cigarettes to be available only by prescription.
 
After repeated calls from public health experts, Australian authorities agreed last month to establish a special committee on tobacco harm reduction to explore a "tobacco reduction strategy," which includes electronic cigarettes.

The committee will analyze strategies successfully adopted by other countries such as the UK and New Zealand, and the impact of these strategies on tobacco and nicotine use behaviors. Ultimately, the committee's goal is to identify methods for reducing youth smoking and electronic cigarette use in Australia, and it will submit a final report detailing its findings by December 1, 2020.

The Pharmaceutical Association supports this measure

At the same time, the TGA has decided to provide nicotine for electronic cigarettes only by prescription. Anthony Tassone, president of the Pharmacy Guild of Victoria, supports this decision. "The Guild supports the temporary decision to reschedule nicotine and supports the decision to list nicotine as a Schedule 4 drug."

Such measures make it more difficult for smokers seeking to quit to access these products, thereby reducing their chances of success. "Ideally, these products should be registered with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The Guild supports this temporary decision that nicotine liquid products are appropriately scheduled and controlled for therapeutic purposes to support smoking cessation."

He added, "Requiring products to be registered on the ARTG will address packaging-related issues, as well as safety and quality concerns."

Of course, it is not surprising that the Guild and other medical institutions support these measures, as it means they will benefit financially. On the other hand, these measures make it more difficult for smokers who want to quit to access these products, thereby reducing their chances of success.

Are electronic cigarette sales limited to pharmaceutical companies?

Last month, the National Retailers Association (NRA) condemned the government's proposal to the Therapeutic Goods Administration to allow only pharmacies to sell nicotine-free products. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb stated that this would create a monopoly and be detrimental to small convenience retailers who rely heavily on tobacco sales.

Lamb said, "The NRA understands that the federal government has asked the Therapeutic Goods Administration to consider whether nicotine-free products should be sold in pharmacies, either by prescription or authorized by pharmacists."

"It makes no sense that cigarettes can be bought freely at corner stores and service stations, but products that can help people quit smoking will be restricted. So outside of doctors' or pharmacists' working hours, the only option is cigarettes. This defies common sense," she added.

Lamb further stated that excluding small businesses from the safer alternatives market in this way would put these businesses at risk, disrupt market dynamics, and have adverse effects on public health.