The Australian Government has moved closer to amending federal legislation to prohibit the “importation, manufacture and supply” of vapes that are not therapeutic, with pharmacists responsible for refilling the devices for those who need them for medical reasons, The Australian has reported. The proposed changes outlined in a consultation paper shared with industry means all vapes that are being marketed for recreational use will be banned under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Only refillable vapes intended for “therapeutic use” will be exclusively available through pharmacies. “The government is proposing to prohibit the importation, manufacture and supply of any vapes that are not therapeutic vapes by relying on the federal cooperative scheme for therapeutic goods,” the paper said. “Under this approach, therapeutic vapes will need to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods or subject to appropriate regulatory controls…to be lawfully imported, manufactured or supplied in Australia. “Consistent with the government’s policy announcement, therapeutic vapes should only be accessed by patients under medical supervision and supplied in pharmacies with a prescription.” The government has also proposed granting new powers, “relating to the forfeiture and destruction” of illegal vapes and making “enforceable directions relating to the importation, manufacture, supply, advertisement and possession of therapeutic goods”. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler was quoted on ABC Radio Perth as saying, “I’m not naive enough to think that there’s not going to be vapes that get through”. “They do not come in shipping containers with a big fat label on the side that says ‘vapes’. “There will be, I fear, organised crime that continues to try to get these things through the border, and as happens with illicit drugs, they will get through. “But we have a responsibility to younger Australians to fight this thing and we are determined to fight them. “Now, stopping at the border is only one part of the solution. “What we then need is good policing on-the-ground, from our health authorities, from our law enforcement authorities, and that’s why it’s so important that I’ve got really strong, complete consensus of all of the state and territory governments here to do this. “I’m proposing to close down the personal import scheme as well, because we think that has just become a bit of a rort for people to import a whole bunch of vapes and then on-sell them. “The only way you’re going to be able to legally import these things is effectively with approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration that you are importing a product that complies with the standards we’ve put in place. “So, say goodbye to the pink unicorns, the bubble gum flavours, the highly variable nicotine content – we don’t know what’s in so many of these things. “We don’t know what chemicals are in them and they are causing very real harm today.” JG