New Zealand – Special Edition
New Zealand News Summary:
One Small Step – Nicotine e-cigarettes to become legal – Government legalises e-cigarettes in effort to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025 – E-cigarette regulations should keep up with emerging science and tech – E-cigarettes will be legalised – Nicotine e-cigarettes to be made legal – Expert Reaction – Nicotine e-cigarettes to be legalised to help people quit smoking
One Small Step
Aotearoa Vape Community Advocacy
Have to admit here that we are all still a bit in shock over todays’ announcement from the MP Nicky Wagner regarding the legalisation of e-cigarettes as we were not expecting anything that soon after our last meeting in early March where we were told nothing would be happening until after the election. We are stoked, of course, but reservedly.
While everyone has been celebrating and/or questioning the veracity of the process, we have been discussing the situation and reviewing all the available information (ever pragmatic are we)
Steve and I both agree there are a few points that absolutely need to be made at this point in time…
Nicotine e-cigarettes to become legal
Nicky Wagner
“Scientific evidence on the safety of e-cigarettes is still developing but there’s a general consensus that vaping is much less harmful than smoking,” Ms Wagner says.
“The Government is taking a cautious approach by aligning the regulations around vaping with those for cigarettes. This ensures cigarette smokers have access to a lower-risk alternative while we continue to discourage people from smoking or vaping in the first place.”
E-Cigarettes – Questions & Answers (PDF)
Expert Reaction
Nicotine e-cigarettes legalised
Associate Professor Marewa Glover, School of Public Health, Massey University
“There is unfortunate confusion with banning vaping wherever smoking is banned, which sends a mixed message that vaping must be similarly dangerous which it is not. Though Minister Wagner did say under the Smokefree Environments Act, which currently does not ban smoking in many outdoor areas.
“Local Govt Councils, District Health Boards, Universities and other workplaces are, however, being heavily lobbied to ban smoking on their grounds (which goes beyond the SFE Act) and they are banning vaping also.
E-cigarette regulations
Should keep up with emerging science and tech
The New Zealand Initiative
Today’s announcement that the Government proposes to legalise nicotine e-cigarettes is welcomed by The New Zealand Initiative.
The Initiative’s research into e-cigarettes has found that some public health studies were not only making false scientific claims, but were doing more harm than good by discouraging smokers to make the switch to a less harmful product.
E-cigarettes will be legalised
Nicholas Jones – New Zealand Herald
E-cigarettes will be legalised – with one expert concerned at how widely products will be available and if children will see advertising in dairies.
The Government announced today it will change the law to legalise the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes. Products will be legally sold at some point next year.
The change is a big win for the e-cigarette industry – its products won’t be in plain packaging, nor will the hefty taxes on normal tobacco be applied.
Nicotine e-cigarettes to be legalised
Emma Hurley, Cleo Fraser
The sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquid will be made legal, in a process that will begin this year and is expected to come into force in late 2018.
The Government will align the regulations around vaping with those for cigarettes, Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner announced on Wednesday.
Ms Wagner acknowledges that some retailers are already selling nicotine e-liquid, however no one has been charged for selling or buying the product.
Nicotine e-cigarettes to be made legal
Craig McCulloch
The government today unveiled plans to legalise the vaping products in a bid to help New Zealand become smoke-free by 2025.
Currently e-cigarettes containing nicotine can be imported for personal use but it is illegal to supply, sell or give them away.
Government legalises e-cigarettes
In effort to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025
Stacey Kirk
The Government has unveiled plans to make e-cigarettes legal, in a bid to claw back lost ground on the ambitious target to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025.
Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner has announced the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquid will be made legal and will likely come into force late next year.
Nicotine e-cigarettes to be legalised
To help people quit smoking
The sale of nicotine e-cigarettes will be legalised for people aged over 18 because “vaping” is much less harmful than smoking and helps people kick the habit, the government says.
“This is an opportunity to see if restricted access for e-cigarettes and e-liquid can help lower our smoking rates, reduce harm and save lives,” Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner said today.
