New Zealand Seeking Feedback on Proposed E-Cigarette Regulations

Jan.09.2023
New Zealand Seeking Feedback on Proposed E-Cigarette Regulations
New Zealand seeks feedback on proposed measures to combat youth vaping, including flavor and packaging regulations and location restrictions.

The New Zealand government is seeking feedback on proposed measures to combat the use of electronic cigarettes by teenagers.


These measures include new regulations pertaining to packaging, flavor names, nicotine salt concentration, and safety of disposable products, as well as restrictions on the location of electronic cigarette specialty stores.


Dr. Ayesha Verrall, Deputy Minister of Health in New Zealand, has stated that the number of young people vaping is on the rise. Despite never having smoked before, many are choosing to use e-cigarettes.


She stated, "In addition to our efforts to reduce smoking, we also hope to ensure the safety and regulation of electronic cigarette products, and that they are only used for their intended purpose of smoking cessation.


Electronic cigarettes can play a role in ensuring that smokers who wish to quit smoking can use e-cigarette products.


However, the proportion of young people vaping is too high, and we need to achieve a better balance.


What proposals are there?


Location restrictions: The new regulations regarding the location of exclusive electronic cigarette stores prohibit them from being situated near schools and athletic fields. This restriction does not apply to general electronic cigarette retailers such as dairy shops and gas stations, which have already been limited to selling only three flavors of electronic cigarettes.


Flavor Names: Restrictions on e-cigarette flavor names in order to reduce their appeal to young people. For example, flavor names such as "cotton candy" and "gummy bear" may no longer be allowed and generic terms such as "candy" must be used instead.


Packaging: Restrict electronic cigarette liquid and product packaging to descriptions of the product's flavor.


Specific requirements for disposable/disposable electronic cigarettes:


The concentration of nicotine salts has been reduced from 50mg/mL to 35mg/mL. People can choose to use lower concentrations of nicotine in reusable devices, but disposable devices have a fixed concentration. The devices are marked with serial numbers for tracking in case of safety issues and to prevent children from using them. The proposed regulations for tobacco control also require feedback on proposals to significantly reduce the availability, attractiveness, and addictiveness of tobacco.


The opinion paper has been made accessible to the public with a deadline of March 15th.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
A U.S. Government Accountability Office audit found that 131,915 tobacco product applications submitted to the FDA since 2018 remained without a final review as of December 31, 2025, with pending applications waiting an average of 1,266 days. GAO also found FDA lacks the data needed to systematically determine whether scientific reviews meet applicable timelines. HHS agreed to upgrade the agency's tracking systems. At the same time, FDA has begun applying lessons from its nicotine pouch PMTA pilot to e-cigarette reviews, while changes to enforcement policy and electronic submissions are making the specific stage of a PMTA increasingly relevant to market access.
FDA
Oct.03
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
Germany's Magdeburg Main Customs Office seized 115,800 untaxed e-cigarettes containing a combined 4.366 million mL of e-liquid during four truck inspections between August 10 and September 4, 2026. The seizures prevented an estimated €1.397 million in tax losses and set a record for the customs office's jurisdiction. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four truck drivers. The case follows a separate German investigation involving more than 7.6 million illicit vapes and an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses.
Enforcement
Oct.13
Product | Philip Morris Launches TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black in Germany With Level-10 Tobacco Intensity at €8 per Pack
Product | Philip Morris Launches TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black in Germany With Level-10 Tobacco Intensity at €8 per Pack
Philip Morris International (PMI) introduced TEREA Bold Red and Bold Black heated tobacco sticks in Germany in October 2026, both carrying a brand-rated tobacco-flavor intensity of 10, the highest level in the country's TEREA portfolio. Bold Red features leather and warm woody notes, while Bold Black combines woody and subtle floral notes. Both are sold in 20-stick packs at €8, approximately 2.6% above standard TEREA products. Germany's TEREA range now includes 11 flavor variants, alongside a separate 26-stick XL format priced at €10. IQOS Germany announced the new products on October 12, followed by a phased retail rollout from late October and an IQOS Club campaign running through December.
product
Nov.02
Special Report|Japan Tobacco Buys CLEW: Can Its 160,000-Store Cigarette Network Help It Vie for U.S. Nicotine Pouch Share Against PMI and BAT?
Special Report|Japan Tobacco Buys CLEW: Can Its 160,000-Store Cigarette Network Help It Vie for U.S. Nicotine Pouch Share Against PMI and BAT?
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) announced on November 12, 2026, that it had acquired the U.S. assets of nicotine pouch brand CLEW from Nevcore Innovations Inc., including trademarks, intellectual property, product formulations and a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA). CLEW, currently distributed through selected outlets in 13 U.S. states, will immediately join the JTI LIGGETT portfolio. The transaction follows JT's approximately $2.4 billion acquisition of U.S. cigarette maker Vector Group in 2024. JTI LIGGETT says its existing cigarette brands reach more than 160,000 U.S. retail stores. During the 2026 NACS Show in October, JTI LIGGETT booth staff told 2Firsts that the company had not yet launched nicotine pouches in the United States. Although Nevcore previously announced FDA acceptance of CLEW's PMTA, the brand is absent from the agency's current list of authorized nicotine pouch products. JT has not disclosed a retail expansion plan for CLEW.
Business
Nov.12
DATA|UK Retail Research Group IGD Says Convenience Tobacco and Vape Sales Fell 10.6%, With 15.4% Market Share Versus Alcohol's 15.1%; Top Rank at Risk in 2027
DATA|UK Retail Research Group IGD Says Convenience Tobacco and Vape Sales Fell 10.6%, With 15.4% Market Share Versus Alcohol's 15.1%; Top Rank at Risk in 2027
Combined tobacco and vaping sales in UK convenience stores fell 10.6% year over year in the first half of 2026, making the category a major drag on channel performance, according to retail research organization IGD. Total convenience sales declined 1.2%, while sales excluding tobacco and vaping increased 0.7%. IGD's 2026 category-share figures show tobacco and vaping accounting for 15.4% of convenience sales, compared with 15.1% for alcohol. The organization forecasts alcohol could overtake tobacco and vaping as the largest category by sales value as early as 2027 if current trends continue. IGD expects the convenience market to increase from £48.6 billion in 2026 to £54.9 billion in 2031, a 2.5% compound annual growth rate, or 3.4% excluding tobacco and vaping.
DATA
Nov.11
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
Ahead of the 2026 NACS Show, 2Firsts interviewed Chris Rapanick, NACS managing director of research, on changes reshaping the U.S. convenience-store tobacco and nicotine market. NACS data show cigarette sales declining while smokeless alternatives, including nicotine pouches, continue to grow. The interview also examines higher OTP margins, shifting backbar space, weaker store traffic, regulatory uncertainty and NACS’ outlook for 2027, offering a retailer-side view of one of the world’s largest nicotine markets.
Interview
Oct.03