Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced an interim decision to reclassify nicotine as a prescription-only medication, meaning nicotine for use in e-cigarettes and e-juice containing nicotine becomes prescription-only from June next year.
This also extends to heat-not-burn, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other nicotine products. The proposed changes makes it illegal to possess these products without a prescription from an Australian-registered medical practitioner.
The interim decision is open for consultation, where consumers are invited to have their say on the proposed changes, until November 6.
Currently state and territory laws make the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-juice illegal throughout Australia and its possession illegal everywhere but in South Australia.
A TGA advisory committee recommended retaining current exemptions for tobacco and certain smoking-cessation products such as patches and gums, which are available over-the-counter.