According to a report by MSN on September 27th, New Zealand's Deputy Health Minister Casey Costello strongly denied any connections with the tobacco industry at a health alliance meeting on Tuesday.
According to reports, at the meeting, Costello came under scrutiny from health researchers for loosening anti-smoking laws and providing a document titled "Nicotine is just as harmful as caffeine." The document also criticized the Labour Party's Smoke-Free Generation policy as being "nanny-state nonsense".
The minister recently reduced the consumption tax on heated tobacco products (HTP), making them a more attractive alternative to smoking. These changes align with the demands of tobacco companies, with the main player in the heated tobacco products market being Philip Morris International, which employs two former senior officials of the New Zealand First Party.
I have never had any association with the tobacco industry," Costello said in response to questioning of his credibility at the conference. "Despite extensive efforts, including the Freedom of Information Act and written parliamentary inquiries, no evidence has been found linking me to the tobacco industry, and I have never sought advice from them.
Costello added that according to documents obtained by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation under the Official Information Act, there is nothing in conflict with the policy positions of the New Zealand First Party.
Costello stated that the government is committed to achieving the Smoke-Free 2025 goal, which will require approximately 80,000 people to quit smoking by the end of next year to reach this target.
Due to the availability of alternatives such as e-cigarettes, many people have quit smoking. She also mentioned that legislation is being introduced to make smoking alternatives more affordable.
We need a set of appropriate legislation and regulatory systems to provide equal levels of regulation for smoking and other nicotine products.
She emphasized that the Smokefree 2025 goal is just the beginning. "We still need to remain vigilant to ensure that New Zealand remains smokefree, young people do not start smoking or using e-cigarettes, and those who have quit smoking or quit using e-cigarettes do not start again.
Chris Bullen, a tobacco researcher at the University of Auckland, is skeptical about New Zealand's ability to achieve its Smokefree 2025 goal. "I don't believe that the current plan will allow us to reach this goal, and it definitely cannot be achieved without significant costs," he said.
He also stated that repealing the smoke-free legislation is harmful, and believes that introducing new nicotine products into the market without testing is a radical experiment. However, he supports the government's efforts to improve regulation of smoking alternatives.
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