Heated tobacco and nicotine products in Australasia

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.

New Zealand: The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill was approved at its first reading in Parliament. The bill is aimed primarily at reducing the number of retailers who can sell smoking products; it does not apply to heated tobacco. Among the measures is a ban on the sale of smoking products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009. The bill is now with the Health Committee, which will prepare a report on it before submitting it for second reading.

New Zealand: Associate health minister Ayesha Verall has introduced a bill setting new requirements for entry into the combustible tobacco retail market. The bill is part of the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Plan and is aimed primarily at reducing the number of retailers who can sell smoking products; it does not apply to heated tobacco. Among the measures is a ban on the sale of smoking products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009.

Australia: A change of government, following the weekend’s federal election, could have a direct impact on nicotine and innovative tobacco products in the country. The Australian Labor Party, which has promised to crack down on “unhealthy products”, now has 75 seats in the House of Representatives (out of 151) and 26 in the Senate (out of 76). This approach, together with the existing 2030 National Tobacco Strategy, which will be focused on reducing tobacco lobbying and holding public campaigns warning of the dangers of tobacco products, is sure to play a big role in future regulation.

Australia: The Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday published the results of its 2020/21 smoking and vaping prevalence survey. They show 10.7% (2.1m) adults were daily smokers, including 8.3% of those aged 18-24, while 61.2% of adults had never smoked.