Heated tobacco and nicotine products in Australasia

Australia: The government of Queensland has passed legislation to strengthen the state’s anti-smoking and illicit tobacco laws and their enforcement. The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2023 introduces a licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco, expands the list of non-smoking areas and imposes tougher restrictions on cigarette and vape sales at licensed venues. The bill also introduces fines of AUD43,125 ($28,000) for supplying and AUD20,125 ($13,000) for storing illicit tobacco.

Australia: The South Australia state government has proposed extending the existing restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places, press reports. The use of heated tobacco would be banned, along with smoking, on beaches, at public swimming pools, and within 10 m of schools and 5 m of shopping centres.

New Zealand: As highlighted in the TobaccoIntelligence compliance calendar, today (31st January) is the last day for manufacturers and importers of heated tobacco products to submit their market data for 2022.

New Zealand: Most provisions of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, which will ban the sale of smokable tobacco products to anyone born after 1st January 2009, will come into force on 1st January, having received final royal assent.

New Zealand: The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, which will set a limit on the number of e-cigarette retailers and ban the sale of smokable tobacco products to anyone born after 1st January 2009, was approved by Parliament at its third and final reading. The bill will now be signed by the governor-general before becoming law.

New Zealand: The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, which would set a limit on vaping retailers and ban the sale of smokable tobacco products to anyone born after 1st January 2009, was approved by Parliament at its second reading. Additional changes will now be considered by MPs before the bill’s third and final reading.

New Zealand: From tomorrow, 11th August, all retailers of smokeless tobacco products, including heated tobacco, must ensure the products they are selling conform to the new packaging regulations. This includes both general retailers and specialist stores. Among the rules are new health warnings and newly prohibited features on packaging.

New Zealand: The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, which would ban the sale of smoking products to anyone born after 1st January 2009, and set a limit on retailers, is now open for comment. Submissions, which can be made by anyone, will be accepted until 24th August.