Export – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

In the Australian vaping lexicon, Export refers to high-nicotine or otherwise restricted E-Liquid and E-Juice products that are legally manufactured overseas but cannot be sold domestically under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. These products are labelled “For Export Only” and are shipped to markets where higher nicotine strengths (typically 20 mg/mL or above), certain flavour profiles, or larger bottle sizes remain permissible. For Aussie vapers, Export E-Liquid serves as a benchmark for quality control—many local DIY mixers use Export recipes to recreate compliant 0–20 mg/mL versions at home.

Technical Details

Formulation & Compliance

Export batches are blended in ISO-certified labs using USP-grade propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), pharmaceutical nicotine, and food-grade flavour concentrates. Common ratios are 50/50 PG-VG for pod systems and 70/30 VG-PG for sub-ohm tanks. Bottle sizes range from 30 mL chubby gorillas to 120 mL short-fill formats. Nicotine strengths usually start at 25 mg/mL and climb to 60 mg/mL for nic-salt variants. Child-resistant CRC caps and tamper-evident seals are mandatory for Export markets even though they are not retailed in Australia.

Variations

  • Export Salts: Smooth high-nicotine blends aimed at compact eGo Style and E-Shisha devices.
  • Export Freebase: Traditional 3–12 mg/mL freebase nicotine in larger bottles for rebuildable atomisers.
  • Flavour Concentrates: Un-nicotined Export flavour bases sold to Australian DIYers for legal home mixing.

Usage & Tips

  • DIY Replication: Order Export flavour concentrates, add your own nicotine base diluted to ≤20 mg/mL, and steep for 5–7 days to match the overseas profile.
  • Import Awareness: Personal importation of Export E-Liquid containing nicotine still requires a valid prescription; customs may seize undeclared shipments.
  • Storage: Keep Export concentrates in a cool, dark cupboard to prevent oxidation; amber glass or PET bottles extend shelf life to 12–18 months.

History & Context

The term gained traction after the 2020 Nicotine Scheduling Decision forced Australian vendors to stop domestic sales of anything above 0 mg/mL. Overseas manufacturers responded by creating clearly marked “Export Only” lines, allowing global distribution while respecting Australian retail restrictions. Today, Export recipes often set flavour trends that trickle into compliant nic-salt and freebase E-Liquid sold locally.

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