Health professionals have welcomed a world-leading ban on vapes, with the sale of e-cigarettes restricted to pharmacies as part of a government crackdown on recreational smoking.
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The amended legislation passed the Senate on Wednesday after the government secured a deal with the Greens and will head to the government-controlled lower house to be stamped before becoming law.
Under the deal, pharmacists will be able to sell vapes with limited nicotine content over the counter once they have a discussion with a person about health harms and confirm they're over 18.
It's a watered-down version of the federal government's initial proposal to require smokers to get a doctor's script.
People under 18 will need a prescription to buy a vape and they will only be sold in plain packaging and without flavouring to stop kids being targeted.
The law is slated to come into effect on July 1.
The Australian Medical Association welcomed the bill's passing, with President Steve Robson saying reducing the availability of vapes and imposing stricter controls was "a major turning point".
"The ultimate goal is to stop people taking up vaping and support those already hooked on this deadly habit to quit, working primarily with their GP - and this legislation does exactly that," the professor said.
It was also welcomed by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health as "a vital step in the government's continuing reforms on vaping".
"Equally, the importance of the change that vapes will undergo to restrict their flavours, design and amounts of nicotine cannot be understated," co-CEO Laura Hunter said.
"It will take away the appeal and availability that enticed our kids and got them hooked."
But the peak pharmacy lobby has criticised the scheme, saying their members should only sell products that have a proven therapeutic benefit.
No vaping product had been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association based on safety and efficacy and it was "insulting" pharmacies should become retailers, the Pharmacy Guild said.
Health Minister Mark Butler branded using pharmacies to access medicines without a script "a very common pathway and very much part of our health care system here in Australia".
Pharmacies won't be forced to sell vapes as they are private retailers and the price will be set by the market, Mr Butler added.
They retail under the counter for about $50 to $60 after the government increased border surveillance to stop illegal products flooding the market.
The opposition suggested taxing and regulating the product instead.
It would still bring in plain packaging but instead apply an excise and licensing regime for sellers similar to cigarettes, opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston announced.
It would also set aside $250 million over four years for a new federal police task force.
Australian Associated Press
