A pharmacist’s peak body has opposed changes to the, saying pharmacists do not want to stock and sell a “potentially harmful, highly addictive product”.
Earlier this week, the Greens reached a deal with the Labor Government to allow adults to buy vapes at pharmacies from next week.
Under the government’s, vapes would only have been available to those with a doctor’s prescription.
Vaping laws
The Government introduced a bill earlier this year that would have banned vapes for anyone without a prescription.
While it was able to pass through the lower house, the Labor Government did not receive enough support in the Senate to pass its law.
Earlier this week, the Greens struck a deal with the Government to change the law in exchange for the party’s support in the Senate. The law has now passed both houses.
Changes
The Greens and Labor agreed to change the way vapes can be bought at pharmacies.
From October, anyone over 18 will be able to get a vape from a chemist after briefly speaking with a pharmacist.
Labor also scrapped criminal offences for anyone found to be carrying a vape. Convenience stores and other retailers won’t be able to stock and sell commercial quantities of vapes.
Pharmacy reaction
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia – a peak body representing major chemists and thousands of independent pharmacies – strongly opposed the changes to the legislation.
National vice president Anthony Tassone said: “Pharmacies do not want to supply this potentially harmful, highly addictive product without a prescription.
“We are deeply disappointed that public policy has been developed in a vacuum.”
Government remarks
Health Minister Mark Butler said government regulations won’t force individual pharmacies to sell nicotine vapes. He noted many chemists already stock them for people with prescriptions.
He described the Guild as a “business lobby”, saying the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) – a government-recognised industry body – had supported the changes.
In a statement, the PSA said it wasn’t the “preferred approach”, but it promised to help chemists around the country adapt to the new laws.
Opposition
The Coalition has promised toand introduce a different set of regulations.
Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston said the Coalition would regulate vapes through “strict and sensible policies” allowing some retailers to sell vapes.
“We know pharmacists want to use their valuable time to provide primary care advice to the community, not become tobacconists”.
