New Zealand Prime Minister announces ban on sale of disposable e-cigarettes and increases fines for violations

New Zealand Prime Minister announces ban on sale of disposable e-cigarettes and increases fines for violations

On September 12, the New Zealand government announced the Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No. 2), which completely banned disposable e-cigarettes, significantly increased fines for selling e-cigarettes to minors, and strengthened supervision of e-cigarette stores to prevent young people from accessing e-cigarettes.

On September 12, the New Zealand government's official website announced that Deputy Minister of Health Casey Costell announced that the coalition government has introduced the Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No. 2) to prevent young people from using e-cigarettes.

 

The bill contains four major changes to prevent young people from using e-cigarettes:

 

A complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes;

 

Substantial increase in fines for selling e-cigarettes to minors;

 

Visibility restrictions on non-professional e-cigarette retailers;

 

Distance restrictions near preschool centers.

 

The deputy minister said,

 

"Too many young people are using disposable e-cigarettes - they are cheap and easy to get. That's why we are banning disposable e-cigarette products. In addition, fines will be significantly increased for retailers who illegally sell e-cigarettes, cigarettes and other regulated products to teenagers."

 

The bill stipulates that the maximum fine for selling e-cigarettes or other regulated products to minors under the age of 18 will increase from 10,000 New Zealand dollars (about 6,100 US dollars) to 100,000 New Zealand dollars (61,000 US dollars). The fine for individual violations will increase from 500 New Zealand dollars (about 310 US dollars) to 1,000 New Zealand dollars (about 615 US dollars), and the fine for corporate violations will be increased to 2,000 New Zealand dollars (1230 US dollars).

 

In addition, there are restrictions on the distance from early childhood education centers for new e-cigarette specialty stores. To apply to open a new specialty e-cigarette retail store, the retail location must be at least 100 meters away from a preschool center, which is in addition to the existing requirement of at least 300 meters away from a gathering place or school.

 

Costello stressed that,

 

"Harder penalties will be supported by stronger enforcement. Over the years, we have lacked the necessary level of enforcement, but by December, 16 full-time smoke-free enforcement officers will be added."

 

"The New Zealand government is committed to achieving the 2025 smoke-free goal and preventing young people from using e-cigarettes. This bill will ensure that we can protect young people from the harm of e-cigarettes, while continuing to support adult smokers to quit smoking by maintaining the availability of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool."

 

"I hope the public will submit opinions through the special committee to ensure that we establish a practical system that can achieve these two goals. We hope to eliminate the e-cigarette products that teenagers like most and ensure that effective smoking cessation products are still available to help people quit smoking and prevent relapse."

 

Costello also mentioned that the next step of the government's smoke-free plan will be to update and strengthen the regulation of tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products, and update the smoke-free action plan.

 

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at X,

 

"We are getting tough on youth vaping. We have just introduced legislation to ban all disposable vaping products and impose tougher penalties for selling vaping products to under 18s."

Image source: X