Vape ban: Major backflip as Anthony Albanese’s government announces pharmacists will be allowed to sell e-cigs without prescription

Vapes will be available from pharmacies without a prescription after the Albanian government struck a deal with the Greens that will ease a proposed retail ban on e-cigarettes.

Health Minister Mark Butler on Monday won minor party support for Labour’s controversial plan, which would originally have limited access to vaping to prescription-only pharmacy sales.

Although the ban will be in effect from July 1, as originally intended, individuals will be able to purchase vapes behind the counter from October after speaking with a pharmacist about the health harms associated with vaping.

But the Pharmacy Guild has reacted angrily to the proposal, branding the move ‘insulting’ and urging the Government to change course on its crackdown on vaping.

“Everyone wants to keep illegal vapes out of the hands of children and teens, but the Senate wants pharmacists to stock vapes alongside children’s Panadol, cold and flu medicine, and emergency contraception,” a statement said.

Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) on Monday won backing for the Greens for Labor vape ban, which would restrict access to vaping to prescription-only pharmacies

Individuals will be required to provide ID to purchase vapes, while restrictions will also limit nicotine concentrations.

Children under 18 can still buy vapes, but will need a doctor’s script to do so.

Possession of personal quantities of vaping products will not be subject to criminal charges, but penalties will instead focus on possession and distribution of commercial quantities.

Announcing the overhaul, Mr Butler, who had previously said behind-the-counter sales of vapes would be considered if the prescription-only plan was not successful, said the deal had followed constructive engagement with the crossbench.

“Our world-leading laws will return vapes and e-cigarettes to what they were originally sold to the Australian community and to governments around the world as therapeutic products to help hardened smokers kick the habit,” Mr Butler said.

“These laws protect young Australians and the wider community from the harms of recreational vaping, while ensuring that those who really need access to a therapeutic vapor to help quit smoking can get one from their local pharmacy.”

Greens health spokesman Jordan Steele-John said regulation of the vape market should ensure former smokers are not incentivized to return to cigarettes.

“That’s why the Greens are focused on ensuring adults can access therapeutic vapors when they need them,” he said.

“We have shifted the government from a cost-effective prescription model to one where adults can pick up a vaping product at their local pharmacy without a prescription.”

The Pharmacy Guild has reacted angrily to the proposal: ‘Everyone wants to keep illegal vapes out of the hands of children and teens, but the Senate wants pharmacists to stock vapes alongside children’s panadol, cold and flu medicine and emergency contraception.’

Greens health spokesman Jordan Steele-John (pictured) said regulating the vape market should ensure former smokers are not incentivized to return to cigarettes

Senator Steele-John has previously raised concerns that vape users could face excessive costs and significant difficulties in obtaining a script when trying to quit smoking.

Analysis carried out by the Department of Health in January showed that a prescription-only model for vape sales could require up to a million new GP visits a year for people accessing scripts.

While the Nationals resisted Labor pressure and instead called for vaping to be regulated similar to cigarettes, Mr Butler called on the Liberal Party, whose position on vaping regulation is yet to be determined, to abandon the sales plan for only support pharmacies.

Peter Dutton and all Liberal Senators now have a choice: will they side with the Nationals and Big Tobacco against the concerns of parents and teachers, or will they join a majority of Parliament in protecting the health of young people? Australians for generations to come? ?’ he said.