Juice Cartel owner Hayley Wesche said the vaping industry needed to be better regulated to allow nicotine-based vaping products to be sold in Australia.

"We have been asking for years now to regulate the industry properly to get access to devices and nicotine safely," she said.

Related: Vape debate: E-cigarette use being linked to negative health effects

"Customers come in having been recommended to vape from doctors. It is 95 per cent safer that smoking. When smoking cigarettes, you get carcinogens and tar, with an e-cigarette, you don't get any of that.

"Doctors would prefer nothing goes in you lungs except oxygen but it is about harm reduction and this is a way of doing it."

Last week the TGA announced an interim decision that, if made final in mid-December, would allow the nicotine-based vaping and e-cigarette products to be prescribed by a doctor.

It does not included products such as nicotine gums, sprays or patches.

The Australian Medical Association supported the TGA interim decision, saying it would deter youth from taking up smoking.

"The TGA has recognised the significant risks that come with using e-cigarettes, and the lack of evidence for their role as a quit smoking aid," AMA president Omar Khorshid said.

"The AMA supports all Australians who want to quit smoking. However, we do not have credible evidence to show that e-cigarettes and vaping are safe, or that they are effective as a cessation aid.

"There is also increasing evidence that e-cigarette use can increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

"Most concerningly, vaping could normalise and glamorise smoking, and lead to people who have not smoked before to take up the habit, especially younger Australians."

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The TGA decision comes after the federal government moved the date banning importing nicotine for vaping from July 1 to January 1.

"Everything we sell has no nicotine. If you wish to add nicotine, you need to purchase it from New Zealand, the US or China and mail it to yourself," Ms Wesche said.

"We're a bit backward in this country when it comes to vaping. In supermarkets, in the medical aisle, nicotine gum, sprays and lozenges are available and you only need to be 14.

"We can regulate the industry like they have New Zealand, the UK and Europe."

The TGA's interim decision is open to the public until November 6. A decision is expected by mid-December with a potential implementation date set to be mid next year.