Australia cracks down on nicotine pouches and illegal tobacco

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced new regulations that will take effect on 24 July 2026, effectively closing all legal pathways for consumer access to nicotine pouches. The reforms prohibit personal importation, remove the products from the Special Access Scheme and the Authorized Prescriber Scheme, and bar pharmacists from compounding them. Under the new rules, nicotine pouches can be supplied only if they are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) or qualify for a specific statutory exemption – but no nicotine‑pouch products are currently registered, leaving no lawful route for purchase or import. The Australian Border Force has also confirmed that travellers may no longer bring nicotine pouches into the country and that unlawful imports will be seized. Professor Anthony Lawler, head of the TGA, said the measures will strengthen the ability to combat illegal importation, advertising and supply, directing consumers toward approved nicotine‑replacement therapies.

A separate fact‑check examined three proposals put forward to address Australia’s illegal tobacco market: lowering tobacco tax, expanding access to reduced‑risk nicotine products such as vapes, and intensifying border enforcement. The analysis highlighted that the AIHW’s recent smoking‑prevalence survey shows record‑low rates, but questioned the proposals’ evidence base, noting that tax cuts have been repeatedly dismissed as ineffective and that expanding vape availability lacks robust support. The fact‑check also addressed concerns about the reliability of AIHW data, concluding that while under‑reporting of consumption is common, there is little recent evidence of systematic under‑reporting of smoking status.