Nicotine Legalities
Updated 14/03/22
Firstly, It's important to mention that we are not lawyers and therefore cannot give legal advice. Our aim on this page is to provide you with some quick info that is to the best of our knowledge and relevant in our locality (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) at the time of writing. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the most up to date and relevant information for your area and we recommend that you cross-check this information with other credible sources.
Key Points:
- The sale, gifting, importation or possession of Nicotine without a prescription is Illegal.
- Electronic cigarettes containing Nicotine cannot be sold by anyone in Australia.
- Only a compounding pharmacy can legally provide nicotine (for use in vaporizer eliquid) to an individual once said individual provides their prescription.
- Only Doctors - Be it in person, over the phone or online can provide a prescription for Nicotine.
- Nicotine can be ordered legally with a prescription. HERE
Electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette products containing nicotine.
In Queensland, electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette products containing nicotine are illegal unless on prescription and supplied from a pharmacist or through Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) processes.
Please note that currently no electronic cigarette products containing nicotine have been approved as a therapeutic good by the TGA for sale in Australia. These products are considered ‘unapproved medicines’ and have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality and efficacy.
In Queensland, nicotine is regulated by the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 and supporting regulations (Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 and Medicines and Poisons (Poisons and Prohibited Substances Regulation 2021). Nicotine is regulated on the basis that it is classified as a 'Dangerous Poison' under Schedule 7 of the federal ‘Poisons Standard’, except when included in Schedule 4 for human use.
Electronic cigarettes or electronic cigarette products containing nicotine can be safely disposed of at a community pharmacy or a local public health unit.
To report illegal sale or possession of electronic cigarettes or electronic cigarette products containing nicotine, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).