A clamp down on vaping will come into effect from Friday the first of October, with new laws closing a loophole in national legislation which has enabled the unregulated importation and illegal sale of vaping products capable of containing nicotine.

The new rules will mean anyone seeking a nicotine containing vaping product will need a prescription from a doctor before purchase.

Australian Medical Association Vice President Dr Chris Moy told Perth LIVE’s Oliver Peterson that the loophole has allowed vapes to get into the wrong hands.

“The problem has allowed a lot of nicotine products to get out on the street and we’re seeing massive increases in the numbers of children using these very high dose nicotine products. Some of these disposable vaping packs have twenty packets worth of nicotine in them,” he said.

In 2019, 64 per cent current smokers and 20 per cent non-smokers aged 18 to 24 reported having tried vapes.

The new regulation aims to make it harder for underage users to access vaping products which can hold nicotine.

“Kids are getting into them and ask any teacher how many they’re seeing at the moment. Really they’re trying to stop this because it’s becoming an epidemic,” Dr Moy said.

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