On 1 January 2024, the Australian Government introduced a ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes. The ban includes both nicotine and nicotine-free disposable vapes.
From 1 March 2024, further changes are planned to commence, including the:
- cessation of the personal importation of vapes
- ban on the importation of non-therapeutic vapes
- requirement for therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration of their product’s compliance with the relevant product standards
- requirement for importers to obtain a licence and permit from the Australian Government’s Office of Drug Control before the products are imported.
The ABC recently reported that “A study of more than 4,000 teenagers has found one in four have vaped, with researchers warning they are doing it in the mistaken belief it helps with stress and anxiety.” (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-11/one-in-four-teens-have-vaped-according-to-study/102839976)