What Australian Pharmacists Need to Know About the New Tobacco Legislation

As of April 2025, the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 is now fully in effect—bringing significant changes to how tobacco and nicotine products are sold, packaged, and promoted across Australia.

For pharmacists, this legislation not only impacts product compliance but also strengthens the role pharmacy plays in supporting smoking cessation and public health outcomes.

Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant—and support your patients through the transition.

Key Regulatory Changes Affecting Tobacco Products

While advertising bans and plain packaging laws are already familiar, the updated legislation introduces stricter requirements aimed at reducing product appeal and increasing quit support.

New Standards Apply to:

• Minimum pack sizes and stick dimensions

• Ingredient content – with new restrictions on additives (e.g. flavour enhancers like crush balls and flavour beads)

• Plain packaging – catchy brand and variant names are no longer permitted

Stronger Health Warnings:

Health messaging on packs has been expanded and made more prominent—creating new opportunities for pharmacists to open up quit conversations at point of care.

Mandatory Health Inserts: A New Patient Touchpoint

Each tobacco product now includes a mandatory health promotion insert, providing:

• Practical quit tips

• Motivational messages

• Support service information

These inserts offer a natural segue for pharmacists to discuss cessation options with customers—reinforcing the pharmacy's role as a trusted health adviser.

Increased Industry Transparency

Manufacturers are now required to submit detailed data, including:

• Ingredients and emissions

• Sales volume and pricing

• Marketing and sponsorship spending

While this doesn’t directly affect pharmacy operations, it signals a broader shift towards transparency and tighter oversight across the entire tobacco and nicotine supply chain.

Transition Period Ending Soon

While the Act took effect in April 2024, there’s been a transition period to allow retailers to adapt. Pharmacists may continue supplying products that comply with the old law until:

30 June 2025

From 1 July 2025, only products that meet the new requirements may be sold.

It’s essential for pharmacies to review current stock and ensure future supply partners are aligned with these new standards.

Vaping Regulations: Tighter Controls in Place

Although this legislation targets tobacco primarily, it also introduces tighter controls on vaping products, including:

• Phasing out certain flavours and device types

• Increased regulation of imports

• Oversight by the newly appointed Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner

For pharmacists, it’s important to distinguish medically prescribed therapeutic vapes from illegally imported or recreational ones. This distinction is key in providing compliant, evidence-based quit support.

The Pharmacist's Role in Smoking Cessation

With new restrictions in place, many Australians may be prompted to reconsider their smoking habits—making pharmacy-based interventions more relevant than ever.

Recommended cessation tools pharmacists can offer or advise on include:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
  (e.g. patches, gum, lozenges, sprays)

• Prescription Medications
  (e.g. varenicline, bupropion—when prescribed by a GP)

• Therapeutic Vaping
  via a valid prescription through a regulated supplier

• Counselling & Referrals
  to Quitline or local health services

• Behavioural Strategies & Tracking Tools
  that support motivation and long-term success

Combining behavioural support with pharmacotherapy has been shown to significantly improve quit rates.

Stay Informed, Stay Compliant

As healthcare professionals, pharmacists are in a unique position to:

• Ensure all stock aligns with the updated legislation

• Educate customers about their quit options

• Identify and report non-compliant or illicit products

• Support the shift toward safer, medically supervised alternatives

Need Help Navigating Product Compliance?

At Vapelabs, we’re here to support pharmacists through the regulatory changes. If you’re unsure about compliant supply pathways or want access to verified therapeutic options, get in touch with our team.