We've got an answer to the Aus oct 1st nicotine prescription
what's actually happening?
As of October 1st, 2021, regulations on importing nicotine into Australia are changing, and Australian vapers will be required to have a valid medical prescription to legally access nicotine e-Liquids.
Technically, on the state level, most Australian vapers have always required a prescription to import and possess nicotine. From October 1, the Australian government is simply formalising this requirement on a national level.
We do believe that you can keep purchasing vaping products After oct 1st, 2021
1. According to the Guidance for the Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Nicotine Vaping Products) (TGO 110), nicotine-free vapes, disposable, non-refillable vaping devices, including both disposable devices and non-refillable disposable pods are not considered medical devices and are therefore NOT regulated by the TGA.
The nicotine liquids inside these devices are regulated as explained in the rest of this page. For more info, please read this TGA PDF.
2. There are tens of thousands of packages coming into Australia every single day. They need to physically open the package, read the prescription, take the time to match the prescription with the recipient and e-liquids inside… And notified of all Australian Vapers asking for a copy of the prescription, wait for their responses, reply the mails…
Guess it will take how much time for AFB to process?
3. If you have a prescription, you will be able to purchase nicotine vaping products that contain nicotine 100% legally, so it’s still recommended to prepare one when you place an order.
You can also add a 1-year script (+$75) on our checkout page. We will pass your case to a registered doctor and automatically attach the script in your parcel.
what should i do to place an order after oct 1st?
If you want us to include a copy of your script in your package as the TGA recommends, then we’re delighted to do that for you. Please upload your script to the checkout page when you place an order.
We do not store your prescription for privacy reasons – you will have to upload it every time you place an order.
Therefore, we will dispatch your orders (whether a prescription is uploaded or not) as normal, the TGA may contact you to ask for a copy of your prescription during the importation.
- If you send the TGA a copy of your prescription, they will instruct the ABF to forward your package to you.
- If you do not provide a copy of your prescription, the TGA can request that the ABF seize and forfeit (destroy) the goods.
We could not reimburse you for any seized shipments nor be liable for any fines levied by any authority if you have not provided the script and added VPZ Care+ to your order.
You can add the VPZ Care Service (+$10) on our checkout page.
VPZ Care covers:
- Discreet Shipping. We will ship your parcel with an unbranded mailer without product information.
- Delivery Warranty. We will resend your order if your parcel is seized or forfeited (destroyed) by customs.
- Customs Clearance Worry-free. We could help you apply or submit a prescription on your behalf (authorized by default) if the TGA asks for it.
If you do not have a prescription, you can add a 1-year script (+$75) on our checkout page. We will pass your case to a registered doctor and automatically attach the script to your parcel.
prescriptions faqs
Yes, we will be running business as usual, you can still buy your nicotine vapes from an online vape store such as VapePenZone.
Disposable, non-refillable vaping devices, including both disposable devices and non-refillable disposable pods, are not considered medical devices and are therefore NOT regulated by the TGA.
You do not need a prescription to import zero-nicotine vape juice, vape devices, coils, pods & any other product that does not contain nicotine.
The nicotine liquids inside these devices are regulated as explained in the rest of this page.
It is recommended to apply for a prescription and upload it at checkout (optional). If you do not upload or add a prescription form during checkout, we will also issue your order normally. What’s the risk?
We will contact you to ask some brief questions according to the doctor’s request, such as smoking habits, experience, strength, etc. You can also contact us with your order number once you completed.
If you have had a prescription, please upload your script at checkout page.
For privacy reason, we do not store your prescription – you will have to upload it every time you place an order.
As prescriptions are considered sensitive private information, we’ve chosen to prioritise privacy and safety and will therefore not store prescriptions on a long term basis.
From a logistics standpoint, it is not. There are tens of thousands of packages coming into Australia every single day. They need to physically open the package, read the prescription, take the time to match the prescription with the recipient and e-liquids inside…
To illustrate how this might work, here is an explanation from a vaping industry senior player:
“It’s October 1, 2021, and 20,000 vape-mail packages arrive in the ABF warehouse.
These packages are sorted, opened, checked for a prescription, no prescription is found, the TGA is referred for assessment. If they can complete the process at a rate of a package a minute, it will take a dedicated team of over forty people three full days.
(Note: these 20,000 packages have to be stored safely in a warehouse somewhere, nicely laid out on shelves so they can be easily found at a later date.)
By day three, the TGA had been notified of all 20,000 original packages and sent letters to each of the 20,000 Australian Vapers asking for a copy of the prescription.
It takes a week (or more) for the letters to arrive, and the vapers have a week to respond.
The vapers wait a week and reply to the TGA via letter, taking another week (or more).
The TGA then takes three days, with a team of forty-two letter-openers, opening letters every minute of every working day to process the letters.
By this time, at least three weeks and six days have passed since they stopped the original packages – it’s now October 28, 2021 (or later), and the TGA has notified the ABF that, in fact, all 20,000 vapers have provided prescriptions.
By this point, the ABF has at least 540,000 vape packages on their shelves and have to go through them to find the first 20,000 to re-seal and re-ship out to the first 20,000 Vapers. This takes another team of at least 80 people three days to complete.”
Yeah, it all seems pretty crazy to us, too. 🤧
Australian Border Force (ABF) officials may stop and review your import at the Australian border.
If there is no prescription enclosed in the package, the ABF will refer the import to the TGA for assessment. The TGA will then contact you to ask for a copy of your prescription.
If you do not provide a copy of your prescription, the TGA can request that the ABF seize and forfeit (destroy) the goods. You may also face penalties for importing a prescription medicine without legal authority.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. VapePenZone cannot reimburse you for any seized shipments nor be liable for any fines levied by any authority – the onus is on you to ensure that you are compliant with any and all laws.