The importation of vaping goods is subject to regulation 5A of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (PI Regulations).
From 1 January 2024, the import of disposable vapes is prohibited unless the importer holds a licence and permit issued by the Office of Drug Control (ODC) under the PI Regulations.- From 1 March 2024, the import of other vaping goods, including devices, accessories, and substances, will require a licence and permit issued by the ODC.
- Only businesses will be eligible to obtain import licences and permits for vaping goods.
Your company or business will need to meet certain criteria to be granted a licence or a permit to import vaping goods into Australia. A permit to import each specific type of vaping good is required.
A vape is a device (whether or not filled with a vape substance) that generates or releases using a heating element and by electronic means, an aerosol, vapour or mist for direct inhalation by its user.
A vape accessory is a cartridge, capsule, pod, vial, dropper bottle, drip bottle or other vessel that contains, or designed to contain, a vaping substance.
A vaping substance is a liquid or other substance intended for use in a vape, or nicotine in solution in any concentration, including in salt or base form.
Before an import permit can be granted under a vaping good import licence, the vaping good must either be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), or a notice must be given to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) which complies with applicable requirements under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
NOTE: If you intend to import nicotine you must also hold a licence to import Schedule 4 substances from the State or Territory in which you conduct business in.
Additional detail on the vaping goods covered by the PI regulations is available in Australian Customs Notice No. 2023/51. You can also contact NCS@health.gov.au if you require further advice regarding the import of vaping goods.
Licence to import vaping goods
Application for a licence to import vaping goods
Guidance for completing an application for a licence to import vaping goods
Permit to import vaping goods
You must hold a licence to import vaping goods before you apply for an import permit.
Application for a permission to import vaping goods
Guidance for completing an application for a permission to import vaping goods
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Vaping goods consist of vapes, vape accessories and vaping substances.
A vape is a device (whether or not filled with a vape substance) that generates or releases using a heating element and by electronic means, an aerosol, vapour or mist for direct inhalation by its user. This includes parts of the vape including batteries (e.g. 510 batteries) that provide the electronic mechanism to heat the element to produce the aerosol, vapour or mist.
A vape accessory is a cartridge, capsule, pod, vial, dropper bottle, drip bottle or other vessel that contains, or designed to contain, a vaping substance.
A vaping substance is a liquid or other substance intended for use in a vape, or nicotine in solution in any concentration, including in salt or base form.
Licences and permits are not granted to individuals for personal import. Only businesses will be eligible to obtain import licences and permits for vaping goods.
Imported vaping goods may be supplied for medical and/or scientific purposes.
Before import permission can be granted the vaping good must either be registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) or provide a provide pre-market notifications to the TGA declaring compliance with the relevant product standards (e.g. TGO 110),
A disposable vape refers to a vaping device that:
- is fully assembled with all the components permanently fixed in place; and
- is not designed or intended to be disassembled; and
- is pre-filled with a therapeutic vaping substance.
Yes, if the device uses an electronic heating element to produce or release an aerosol, vapour or mist for direct inhalation by its user, the changes apply.
Examples of devices that are not vaping devices include the following:
(a) humidifiers;
(b) diffusers;
(c) nebulisers;
(d) inhalers.
These devices can continue to be imported if they are either registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) or provide a provide pre-market notifications to the TGA declaring compliance with the relevant product standards (e.g. TGO 110), prior to the importation or supply of those goods;
and
You hold a licence and permit to import under Regulation 5A of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.
Yes. The licence to import S8 and S4 substances issued by the State and Territory Health Departments is a separate requirement to that of the licence and permit to import vaping goods from the Office of Drug Control.
Once granted, the licence has no expiration date. However, the licence may be revoked at any time if the importer does not meet the conditions specified on the licence.
A licence to import vaping goods is required before any import permits can be granted. The licence specifies authorised companies or individuals who are permitted to import controlled goods. The licence does not provide permission to import the controlled goods.
A permission (permit) provides the authorised company or individual with permission to import the controlled goods. Each type of controlled good intended to be imported requires a separate permit.