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.
Australian Nicotine Prescriptions
From October 1st, 2021, the Australian Government and Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) will require Australian Vapers to hold a prescription before importing nicotine e-liquid products (“unapproved medicines”) under the Personal Importation Scheme.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
It’s incumbent on you to make sure you’re following the proscribed vaping laws of whichever country you reside in.
Australian Nicotine Prescription
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a prescription for Nicotine?
ATHRA has a great list of local doctors in every state who are willing to prescribe nicotine for smoking cessation.
Otherwise, you can use an online service such as QuitRX to get a prescription.
What is The Vape Shop doing after October 1st 2021?
We’re shipping orders as normal, and have implemented a prescription-upload service on our cart page.
You can upload either an image/photo of your prescription, or a PDF file.
Please note that we do not store your prescription - you will have to upload it every time you place an order.
Do I need to upload a prescription?
Nope.
Seriously, you do not need to send us a copy of your prescription.
TheTGA recommends a copy of your prescription to be enclosed with the package the product is sent in, but this is not a requirement.
Why do I have to upload my prescription each time?
How much can I order?
According to the Personal Importation Scheme you can order a three-month supply of your prescribed nicotine products.
The Vape Shop does not enforce these limits / order quantities.
Is it a certainty that the Australian Border Force will stop my vapemail at the border?
Absolutely not. From a logistics standpoint, there is no mechanism or legal requirement to include physical or digital prescriptions with any shipment into Australia under the Personal Importation Scheme.
As such, there is no way for any authority to automatically know if a prescription is enclosed in a package unless they pay somebody to physically open the package, read the prescription, take the time to match the prescription with the e-liquids inside… for tens of thousands of packages coming into the country every. single. day.
What happens if my vapemail is stopped and inspected?
Australian Border Force (ABF) has the power stop your import at the border.
If there is no prescription enclosed in the package;
- the ABF can refer the import to the TGA for assessment.
- The TGA will then contact you to ask for a copy of your prescription.
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 has the power to request that the ABF forfeit (destroy) the goods.
The Vape Shop 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.
To illustrate how this might work
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’re able to complete process this at a rate of a package a minute, it will take a dedicated team of over fourty 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 has been notified of all 20,000 original packages, and have sent out 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 back 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.
At least three weeks and six days have passed since the original packages were stopped - 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 have 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.
TOO LONG, DIDN'T READ
The Vape Shop will continue to fulfil all orders - the onus is on you to ensure that you hold a valid prescription.
Yes, Australians are legally required to have a prescription in order to receive nicotine by mail.
No, you are not legally required to send us a copy of your prescription.
It’s possible the ABF will intercept your package and ask you to provide proof for your prescription.
It’s possible you will be fined if it’s found that you do not have a valid prescription - so make sure you go and get one before placing your order!
While seizure is unlikely, The Vape Shop 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.