Reforms coming into effect from today will allow people to buy vapes from chemists without a prescription, but users will need to speak to a pharmacist before making their purchase.

The vapes will also come in plain packaging and flavours will be limited to mint, menthol or tobacco.

Recent data has revealed that the rate of secondary school students who have ever vaped has more than doubled between 2017 and 2023, from 13.5 per cent to 29.9 per cent.

In another survey, cited by South Australia’s Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton, one in three school students aged 16 to 17 reported e-cigarette use in the past month.

The changes coming into effect follow laws that kicked in from July that banned the sale of vapes outside of pharmacies.

That requirement has been dropped in all states and territories except Tasmania and Western Australia, where their governments have vowed to override national laws and maintain prescription-only access.

The loosening of restrictions is a result of the Federal Government agreeing to amend its vape ban in order to win the support of the Greens to pass the legislation.

Under the new changes, pharmacists will need to be satisfied vapes are “clinically appropriate” and intended for the purpose of helping to stop smoking or the management of nicotine dependence.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the changes would help to stop more young people becoming addicted to vaping.

“The days of bubblegum-flavoured vapes covered in rainbows and unicorns are over. The cynical marketing to our children is done,” he said.

“The only lawful way to purchase a vape is through a pharmacy.”

Vapes sold in pharmacies will be subject to quality and product standards including plain packaging, maximum nicotine concentration levels, and will continue to only be available in mint/menthol and tobacco favours.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA), which represents almost 6000 community pharmacies, says the Federal Government has failed to properly consult it on the reforms and rejects them.

The PSA, which represents 37,000 pharmacists, has previously indicated that removing prescription-only access was not its “preferred approach” but that it would work with the Government to support pharmacists who choose to dispense vapes.

PGA national vice-president Anthony Tassone said the organisation doesn’t support the availability of nicotine vaping products without a prescription, as these are unapproved items.

No vapes that enter Australia have been assessed for quality, safety or efficacy by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and none are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

“We have concerns as a profession about what that means for their long-term safety for our patients,” Tassone said on the ABC News website.

The nation’s largest pharmacy brands, including Priceline Pharmacy, National Pharmacies, the 777 Group and TerryWhite Chemmart, have previously strongly voiced their disagreement with the new laws and indicated they won’t sell vapes without a prescription.

In September, Butler said a more assertive approach was needed to crack down on illegal suppliers of vapes, with some tobacco and convenience stores continuing to sell the product.

Penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines of $2 million apply for those illegally supplying or manufacturing vapes.

Vape buyers would need photo ID for age verification.

The health minister said a crucial aspect of the reform would be pharmacists having “important conversation around the health harms of vaping”.

Butler said pharmacists had been given extra guidance on dispensing vapes.

A key concern raised by pharmacists has been whether their professional indemnity insurance will cover them in the event a customer develops health issues from vaping after having received a vape under their advice.

But guidelines issued on Friday by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), and backed up by Butler, advised pharmacists that their existing liability and indemnity insurance will cover them as long as they obtain informed consent from patients, including outlining the risks associated with vaping.

“Importantly, pharmacists will have automatic insurance coverage when supplying vaping products for smoking and nicotine dependence,” Butler said.

“Therapeutic vapes will have similar restrictions to other pharmacist-only products like pseudoephedrine, allergy and asthma medications.”

(with AAP)