The government has confirmed that product standards for therapeutic vapes will be tightened next year, as it moves forward with its planned overhaul of vaping regulations across Australia.
What remains uncertain is how — or whether — the reforms will affect cannabis companies that include vapes in their product ranges.
Health minister Mark Butler outlined a broad set of measures aimed primarily at curbing nicotine addiction among children. The first step will be a ban, effective January 1, on importing disposable single-use vapes.
From March, further changes will take effect: the personal importation scheme will be scrapped, non-therapeutic vape imports will be banned, and therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers will be required to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that their products comply with the relevant product standards.
Importers will also be required to hold a licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control (ODC) before any products can be brought into the country.
The government indicated that throughout 2024, "product standards for therapeutic vapes will be strengthened," though few specifics were provided.
According to a government statement, permitted flavours will be restricted, nicotine concentrations lowered, and packaging will need to adopt a therapeutic appearance — changes that suggest cannabis firms may see limited direct impact.
Even so, the possibility that cannabis vape products could be subject to new standards has not been ruled out.
It was reported last week that the ODC is seeking to engage with the already-regulated medicinal cannabis industry in an effort to avoid companies being negatively affected by the changes.
The TGA said in a statement that it is considering "maintaining existing regulations for cannabis vapes wherever possible."
"However, initially, it is likely that there will be some changes in relation to re-usable vaping devices," it said.
"Some devices that are currently excluded from the therapeutic goods regulatory scheme are expected to become regulated and it is expected there will be new requirements to obtain import permissions and confirm vaping devices meet quality standards.
"Longer term, the TGA will review the standards applicable to cannabis vaping substances."
