The latest outbreak from the Ministry of Health is disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising, according to Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), in response to the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ).
She made the comment after ARFNZ claimed that the Ministry of Health had not achieved a proper balance with New Zealand's e-cigarette regulations.
ARFNZ's exaggerations and unfounded claims about e-cigarettes persist, but in reality, New Zealand has successfully implemented a harm reduction strategy for tobacco, leading to a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025. According to Ms. Loucas, ARFNZ should focus their attacks on combustible cigarettes instead.
CAPHRA was shocked to learn from the latest official statistics that ARFNZ is continuing on the path of new prohibitionism. Earlier this month, it was revealed that New Zealand's smoking rate has dropped from 9.4% of adults smoking daily a year ago to a historic low of 8%.
The Smoke-Free Environment and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment is currently under parliamentary review. Its aim is to restrict the attractiveness and accessibility of cigarettes.
Ms. Lucas stated that ARFNZ should only be focusing on the Smoke-free Amendment Bill. Instead, they seem determined to continuously undermine and criticize the Ministry of Health's position on e-cigarettes. The issue here is cigarettes, not safer nicotine alternatives that save the lives of thousands of New Zealand smokers every year.
According to CAPHRA, New Zealand's smoke-free and THR policies are being studied and replicated by many other countries. Recently, a parliamentary delegation from Malaysia visited New Zealand to learn how smoking rates were halved in the past decade. New Zealand's regulatory framework is also crucial for recent regulations in the Philippines, and even Thailand is considering creating its own regulations based on New Zealand's model.
We urge the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Ayesha Verrall, to continue down the path of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), which has been successful in helping adult New Zealand smokers switch to e-cigarettes - a highly effective and harm-reducing smoking cessation tool. It is not the time to be distracted by minor issues.
We also urge ARFNZ to follow science and facts. Let's focus on the real issue - combustible tobacco," said Nancy Loucas.
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