myduke® connects you with Australian authorised prescribing doctors for nicotine replacement therapy for the cessation of smoking.
Regulations in Australia have changed in the last few years, and it’s important to understand your limitations when it comes to nicotine replacement therapy.
Here's everything you need to know about the current state of play.
Australian law
As it stands, some smoking cessation products require a prescription from an authorised medical professional.
It’s also illegal to purchase said products through anything other than a licenced pharmacy. Tobacconists, retailers and convenience stores cannot sell in Australia, and any who do are breaking the law.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration
The TGA has introduced a new standard for certaing smoking cessation products, known as the Therapeutic Goods Order 2021 (TGO110). This came into effect on 1 October 2021 and includes minimum safety and quality requirements.
All nicotine replacement therapy dispensed by My Duke Pharmacy meet the new standard, including:
- What information is needed on the product’s label.
- What child-resistant packaging is needed.
- Limits on the concentrations.
- Ingredients that are prohibited in these products.
- Records that need to be kept by the Australian sponsor for the product.
Dispensing
Australian law requires a valid prescription for all purchases of certain smoking cessation products, and these products have to be purchased through a registered pharmacy.
My Duke Pharmacy is authorised to dispense but will only do so if you’re a verified patient and your order is accompanied with a prescription from an Australian Authorised Prescriber.
If it’s your first order, a pharmacist will be in touch to validate your ID over the phone, just like any other prescription medication.
Why go through an ‘authorised supplier’?
For starters, it’s the only legal way to buy certain smoking cessation therapies in Australia. So that’s important. Beyond that, by using therapeutic grade products from reputable suppliers, you know you’re sourcing compliant products, without any toxic additives. The same guarantee can’t be made for black market and illicit products, or products purchased without a valid prescription.