New Zealand minister puts forward plan for e-cigarette regulation

The minister charged with drawing up proposed regulation of e-cigarettes in New Zealand has done so, based on the stated belief that vaping and smokeless tobacco are “highly likely to be much less harmful than smoking”.

The proposals come in a report submitted to the government by associate health minister Jenny Salesa. If the suggestions put forward in her paper, “Supporting smokers to switch to significantly less harmful alternatives”, are followed, vaping would be treated in largely the same way as smoking under an amended Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 (SFEA).

The use of e-cigarette and heated-tobacco products would almost certainly be banned in and around bars, restaurants, casinos, public transport, travel terminals, sports clubs and workplaces. Product safety regulations, so far unspecified, would also be introduced.