From 1 January 2021 vapers will be required to go to an Australian registered medical doctor to obtain a prescription for nicotine and then to a pharmacy to purchase nicotine liquid.

The Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Associate (ATHRA) believes nicotine liquid should be available for sale as a consumer product so it can be easily accessed as a quitting aid for smoking.

Consumer products are regulated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission which can provide strong protection to the public under consumer law. ARTHA believes low concentrations of nicotine liquids are not medicines, and in child-resistant containers they are low-risk products which cause minimal harm and are lifesaving for many smokers where they are used to replace an existing consumer product, traditional cigarettes.

On 21 September ATHRA sent this flyer Liquid nicotine Prescription or consumer product? to all federal MPs and Senators explaining why this proposal must not go ahead outlining what a prescription model won’t work and other harmful effects of this pending change in regulation.

Download and share their flyer