Advocates for tobacco harm reduction (THR) in New Zealand say that Deputy Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall has done well in not being hindered by baseless attacks on e-cigarettes during parliamentary debates on the Smokefree amendment.
Some members of Congress appear determined to rewrite the popular 2020 electronic cigarette legislation. However, the issues surrounding youth use of e-cigarettes are more related to enforcement and, frankly, parental responsibility," said Nancy Loucas, co-founder of New Zealand e-cigarette advocacy organization (AVCA).
Last week, the Environmental and Regulatory Products (Flavored Tobacco) Amendment passed its second reading and committee stage in Parliament. It is expected to pass its third reading and receive royal assent, becoming law.
Dr. Verrall has been committed to implementing a smoke-free law before the end of the year. This would reduce the number of retailers selling tobacco, diminish the appeal of cigarettes and ensure that future generations will never sell tobacco.
The minister unequivocally stated that she understands the concerns of parliamentarians regarding youth e-cigarettes, but she is also committed to closely monitoring this issue. She clarified that the legislation in question pertains to combustible tobacco, which is the real scourge and killer in our society," said Ms. Lucas.
The AVCA has stated that regulations on electronic cigarettes are still being rolled out and their full impact is yet to be seen. In the meantime, they are calling on the government to ensure better compliance with the rules through the establishment of an electronic cigarette regulatory body.
Some people are trying their best to depict the scene of out-of-control e-cigarettes, just like in the wild west. The reality is that e-cigarettes have never been subject to such strict regulation. The product strictly adheres to the R18 standards, all advertising is banned, and packaging and displays are also restricted," she said.
The AVCA has stated that the latest smoke-free legislation will assist New Zealand in achieving its goal of being smoke-free by 2025, with smoking rates not exceeding 5%. However, the country's decade-long national smoke-free goal can only be achieved by providing feasible alternatives for New Zealand adults who are eager to quit smoking.
Despite some hysteria, nicotine is not the problem. Instead, it is combustible cigarettes that lead to approximately 5,000 deaths of New Zealanders each year due to smoking-related illnesses," she said in standard journalistic English.
Ayesha Verrall, the Deputy Director-General of Health in New Zealand, has emphasized the importance of providing safer nicotine products to adult New Zealanders. "We need to continue supporting smokers in successfully transitioning to less harmful products," she said.
The tobacco harm reduction strategy in New Zealand is performing well. Last month, it was reported that the smoking rate in New Zealand has dropped to a historic low of 8% of adults who smoke daily, down from 9.4% a year ago.
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