eCigarette compliance program

​​Our goal

The eCigarette Compliance Program aims to support pharmacists in meeting their regulatory requirements for vaping goods. The program promotes compliance by:

• providing ongoing tailored support
  
• preventing unintentional breaches
• promoting best practices so pharmacists can feel confident in meeting their obligations.​

Our team

The eCigarette Compliance Team brings valuable firsthand experience as it includes members who were former community pharmacists. The team provides practical support and guidance to help pharmacists:

• strengthen their processes
  
• clarify uncertainties in requirements, and
  
• feel confident in managing their regulatory responsibilities
  

Our visits

The eCigarette Compliance Team visits pharmacies across NSW to support them in maintaining legal and responsible practices regarding the supply of vaping goods. During these visits, the team works with pharmacists to:

• assess, review and guide practices relating to the storage, sale and supply of vaping goods,
• ensure compliance with Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 regulatory requirements.

Understanding the busy environment of pharmacies, the team keeps visits short. Team members will pause visits if pharmacists need to attend to customers or urgent matters.

The team also reviews and collects information on other high-risk or priority areas such as:

• Schedule 8 medicine storage,
• cold chain storage and monitoring,
• vaccine and UTI services, including pharmacy consultation rooms from which these services are provided.
  

For more information, refer to the Pharmacy re​view tool.

Helpful reminders for pharmacists

Pharmacists are reminded to:

• ​Check current stock of vaping good regularly and remove non-compliant stock. To verify compliance, refer to the ​​TG​A's notified vape list​.
• Return or safely dispose of non-compliant stock. For disposal guidance, see:
  
• ​​​Return Unwanted Medicines Program​​​
• Planet Ark's Recycling Near You ​- and select 'vapes'.

• ​​Verify that vaping goods are supplied via the Authorised Prescriber (AP) Scheme or the Special Access Scheme (SAS). This can be confirmed by contacting the prescriber, or via the TGA's SAS/AP Online System​​.​
• ​Report adverse events and faulty vaping goods to both the product sponsor and the TGA. For more information, refer to Report an adverse event or problem (health professionals)​.​
• Be aware that the advertising of vaping goods to the public is not permitted. Advertising of smoking cessation services may be permitted. For more information, refer to Vapes: advertising and promotion​.​
• Refer to and use the Pharmacy fact sheet and self-assessment to ensure ongoing compliance with regulations relating to the storage and supply of vaping goods.​

Program update

​​Overview (1 October 2024 - 31 January 2026)

The Program found strong levels of compliance across participating pharmacies, with no major compliance breaches detected.

Pharmacists engaged well with the program and responded positively to the education and guidance. Where opportunities to strengthen practices were identified, pharmacists worked with the program team to address the issues promptly.

Overall, the findings of the program shows a strong commitment from the pharmacy sector to safe, lawful supply of vaping goods and to supporting patient care.

Key findings

A total of 387 pharmacy visits were completed, and strong overall compliance was found. No major issues were identified and minor compliance breaches were resolved through education and guidance.

Common areas for education and guidance included:

• ensuring vaping goods supplied are labelled with clear and consistent directions for use,
  
• submitting a SAS Category C notification to the TGA within 28 days for each instance of S3 supply,
  
• maintaining consistent age verification processes, including sighting patient identification to ensure patients are aged over 18 years,
• obtaining and documenting informed consent.
  

During the visits, the program team worked collaboratively with pharmacists to provide targeted guidance where further clarification was required. This included:

• ​ensuring vaping goods supplied are labelled with clear and consistent directions for use
• submitting a SAS Category C notification to the TGA within 28 days for each instance of S3 supply
• maintaining consistent age verification processes, including sighting patient identification to ensure patients are aged over 18 years,
• obtaining and documenting informed consent​​​

During the visits, the program team worked collaboratively with pharmacists to provide targeted guidance where further clarification was required. This included:

Managing one-month supply limits  

• Pharmacists were supported to strengthen how they assess one month supply quantities. Examples included recording sales of vaping goods within dispensing systems and reviewing patient usage and purchase history.