Position Statement: Online E-Cigarette Dispensing in Australia

Numerous pharmacies have been established to solely sell vaping products and no other pharmaceutical products. The creation of these pharmacies has been primarily online. Additionally, a number of these newly established online pharmacies were previously vape shops that have now pivoted to a new business model, with many establishing a presence in QLD where there are legislative loopholes. 

E-cigarettes (also referred to as vapes) present risks to both physical and mental health. There is a lack of robust evidence for the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool compared to existing evidence-based smoking cessation methods. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recommends behavioural support combined with first-line pharmacotherapy and follow-up. First-line pharmacotherapy options are medicines that have been demonstrated to be effective and safe such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or medicines. The Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA) has not evaluated any therapeutic vaping goods for safety, quality or effectiveness, and they are considered unapproved goods. The TGA does not recommend e-cigarettes as a first line of treatment for smoking cessation, vaping cessation or the management of nicotine dependence.  

The change of vaping products from prescription only medicine to pharmacist only medicine has opened up the opportunity for vape shops to rebrand as pharmacies and continue to supply vaping products with limited oversight. A pharmacy business model that only sells vaping products does not have people’s health in their best interests and undermines public health efforts.  

Lung Foundation Australia makes the following recommendations:  

1. Online businesses and stores that only sell therapeutic vape products and accessories and no other pharmaceutical products should not be allowed to operate.  

2. No therapeutic vaping products or accessories  should be allowed to be sold online. 

3. State and Territory regulations should be amended for national consistency to require a pharmacist to directly engage in-person with customers seeking a Schedule 3 (S3) therapeutic vaping good.