Frequently Asked Questions About BIMO Vape and Vaping in Australia

What is BIMO Vape?

BIMO Vape is a brand associated with electronic vaping products, which may include disposable or rechargeable vaping devices depending on the specific product. Consumers should check the exact product, ingredients, nicotine concentration and manufacturer information before considering any vape product.

For Australian consumers, the important issue is not simply the brand name. Whether a particular BIMO product can legally be supplied or used depends on Australia’s therapeutic-vaping framework, the product’s characteristics and applicable state or territory requirements.

The legality of a particular BIMO Vape product cannot be determined from the brand name alone. Australia has a national regulatory framework covering vaping devices, vaping substances and accessories.

Since 1 July 2024, vapes can only be lawfully supplied through pharmacy settings for therapeutic purposes, subject to applicable requirements. Non-pharmacy retailers such as tobacconists, vape shops and convenience stores cannot legally supply vapes.

Consumers should therefore verify whether a specific BIMO product is included on the TGA’s applicable notified-vape arrangements and whether it can lawfully be supplied in their state or territory.

Generally, no. Australian federal rules prohibit non-pharmacy retailers from supplying vaping products. This includes vape shops, tobacconists and convenience stores.

Therapeutic vapes may be supplied through participating pharmacies when the relevant requirements are satisfied.

Consumers should be careful when purchasing any vape online. Australian rules do not permit ordinary online retail sales of vapes in the same way as conventional consumer products.

The TGA states that vapes cannot be purchased from overseas retailers or websites for personal use. Therapeutic vaping goods are subject to specific pharmacy and regulatory pathways.

The TGA states that vapes cannot be purchased from overseas retailers or websites for personal use, even where the purchaser has a prescription. Australian Border Force may seize and destroy suspected unlawful imports.

This means Australian consumers should not assume that an overseas website offering BIMO Vape for delivery to Australia is providing a lawful purchasing route.

Subject to state and territory requirements, participating pharmacies may supply certain therapeutic vapes containing 20 mg/mL of nicotine or less to people aged 18 or over without a prescription when the pharmacist considers supply clinically appropriate and the other regulatory conditions are met.

A pharmacist must assess the circumstances rather than simply treating vaping products as ordinary retail goods.

Yes. Under the current TGA framework, a prescription from a medical or nurse practitioner is required for therapeutic vapes containing more than 20 mg/mL nicotine. State and territory requirements may impose additional restrictions.

Vaping products are subject to strict age-related restrictions. Under the federal therapeutic-vaping framework, people under 18 require a prescription where state or territory law permits access at all. Some jurisdictions may impose additional restrictions.

Australia does not treat disposable vapes as ordinary consumer products. The domestic manufacture, commercial possession and sale of non-therapeutic and disposable vapes are prohibited under the federal reforms, while therapeutic vaping products remain subject to specific pharmacy-based requirements.

Therefore, consumers should not assume that a disposable BIMO, HQD, Elf Bar, or another branded disposable vape is automatically legal simply because it is available online or overseas.

Nicotine-free does not automatically mean unrestricted. The TGA states that vaping goods, including zero-nicotine vapes, are subject to the pharmacy-based framework. Zero-nicotine vaping goods are still considered vaping goods and are restricted to pharmacy settings when lawfully supplied.

No. The TGA explains that therapeutic vapes available under the current framework are generally unapproved therapeutic goods and are not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

The fact that a vape is on the notified list does not mean the TGA has evaluated it for safety, quality, efficacy or performance in the same way as an ARTG-registered therapeutic product.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods. It administers the regulatory framework covering therapeutic vaping goods, including requirements relating to supply, product standards and notified products.

The TGA also provides information for consumers, pharmacists, prescribers, manufacturers and importers.

The TGA maintains a list of therapeutic vaping goods that can be lawfully supplied when the applicable requirements are met. The list is intended to help healthcare practitioners identify vaping products that have been notified as complying with relevant requirements.

Consumers researching BIMO Vape should check the current official TGA information rather than relying solely on an online retailer’s claim that a product is “TGA approved.”

No. This distinction is important.

The TGA explains that therapeutic vapes supplied under the current framework are unapproved therapeutic goods. A product appearing on the notified list does not mean it has been evaluated by the TGA for safety, quality, performance or effectiveness.

A pharmacy cannot simply sell any BIMO product because it is a pharmacy. Therapeutic vaping products must meet the applicable regulatory requirements, and pharmacists can only supply products through the relevant lawful pathways.

Pharmacists are also not required to stock or supply every vaping product.

There are limited traveller exemptions. The TGA states that a person entering Australia by aircraft or ship may bring a small quantity for treatment of themselves or someone they care for who is travelling on the same vessel.

The stated maximum is 2 vapes, 20 vape accessories such as cartridges, capsules or pods, and 200 mL of vaping substance in liquid form, subject to the applicable conditions.

Federal Australian vape reforms do not generally criminalise individual possession of small amounts for personal use. However, state and territory laws can impose additional restrictions, including restrictions concerning possession of unprescribed nicotine vapes.

Therefore, possession rules should be checked for the particular Australian state or territory.

No. Vaping restrictions apply in many places, and the exact rules vary between states and territories.

Restrictions may apply in enclosed public areas, workplaces, public transport areas, schools, healthcare facilities and other designated locations. Consumers should check the rules applicable to their state or territory and the specific venue.

Australia has introduced strong restrictions on vape advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The TGA states that advertising of vapes is banned except where specifically authorised, with the framework covering media platforms including social media.

Businesses and publishers should therefore be particularly careful when creating promotional content about BIMO Vape or other vaping products.

It is not appropriate to describe a particular BIMO product as “safe.” Vaping can expose users to nicotine and other substances, and vaping products have potential health risks.

For smokers considering vaping as part of quitting, professional medical advice is appropriate. The TGA also notes that therapeutic vapes are not considered a first-line treatment for smoking cessation or nicotine dependence.

The health effects of vaping and smoking are different, but this does not make vaping harmless. Cigarette smoking exposes users to toxic substances produced through combustion, while vaping involves inhaling an aerosol generated from vaping substances.

People who do not smoke should not start vaping. Smokers who want to quit should consider evidence-based cessation treatments and discuss their options with a healthcare professional.

Vaping products can contain different nicotine concentrations. Under Australia’s current therapeutic-vaping framework, products supplied under the pharmacist-only pathway are limited to 20 mg/mL nicotine or less. Higher concentrations require a prescription, and vapes containing more than 50 mg/mL nicotine are not permitted.

Consumers should check:

  • The product name and manufacturer information
  • Nicotine concentration
  • Ingredients and warnings
  • Packaging and product identification
  • Whether the product is lawfully supplied in Australia
  • Whether it appears on the relevant TGA notified list
  • Whether the product is suitable for its intended therapeutic purpose
  • The applicable state or territory requirements

A product being advertised online does not necessarily mean it is lawful to sell or import in Australia.

Counterfeit vaping products can present additional safety and quality concerns. Consumers should be cautious of products with missing manufacturer information, poor-quality packaging, inconsistent labelling, suspiciously low prices or unverifiable product information.

Where possible, consumers should obtain products through lawful Australian pharmacy channels and verify regulatory information through official sources.

Do not continue using a damaged, leaking or malfunctioning vaping device. Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and ask a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional for advice where appropriate.

Suspected adverse events or product defects involving therapeutic vapes can be reported through the relevant TGA reporting pathways.

Vaping should not automatically be considered the best or first-line option for quitting smoking. The TGA states that therapeutic vapes are not first-line treatment for smoking cessation, vaping cessation or management of nicotine dependence.

People wanting to quit should discuss established smoking-cessation options with a doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist.

Australia has registered nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), including patches, lozenges, inhalers, mouth sprays, chews and gums. The TGA states that these registered NRT products are not affected by the vaping reforms and are available through pharmacies and some other retail outlets.

No. Australian federal rules prohibit non-pharmacy retailers from supplying vaping products. Convenience stores, tobacconists and vape shops cannot legally supply vapes under the current framework.

The Australian vaping reforms were introduced to regulate vaping products nationally, reduce youth access and address risks associated with vaping while maintaining access to therapeutic vaping products where clinically appropriate.

The framework regulates importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertising of vaping goods.

For the most reliable information, consumers should consult the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Border Force and the relevant state or territory health department.

Vaping regulations can change, and state or territory rules can impose additional requirements. For this reason, information from an overseas vape retailer should not be treated as authoritative Australian legal advice.