New Zealand strengthens regulations on e-cigarettes to protect youth

Sep.13.2024
New Zealand strengthens regulations on e-cigarettes to protect youth
New Zealand tightens e-cigarette regulations, bans disposable ones, increases fines for selling to minors. Enforcement challenges persist.

According to The Post on September 13th, New Zealand's Deputy Minister of Health, Casey Costello, announced on Thursday (12th) the "Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Act (No 2)," which completely bans disposable e-cigarettes and significantly increases fines for selling e-cigarettes to minors. The act also strengthens regulations for e-cigarette specialty shops to prevent young people from accessing e-cigarettes.


However, Charyl Robinson, co-founder of the anti-vaping organization "Vape Free Kids," stated that even with increased enforcement efforts, these officials are still "no match" when faced with a large number of retail outlets.


According to the organization's latest official statistics, there are over 7500 retail outlets, including dairy stations and gas stations.


Robinson stated that health department officials working with law enforcement officers are also facing issues of staff and budget cuts.


Even with the approval of hundreds of new enforcement officers by the minister, they still rely on health department staff to translate on-the-ground work into prosecutable cases.


Xiaoming He, the owner of a dairy shop in Christchurch, has become the first e-cigarette retailer to be prosecuted for violating the Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products Act of 1990. He was found guilty in August.


Although e-cigarettes have helped some people quit smoking, they have also introduced many teenagers who have never smoked to e-cigarettes. These children who would not have otherwise smoked have become collateral victims. We have thousands of addicted teenagers, many of whom have obtained e-cigarettes from unscrupulous retailers. This is a much larger problem than the minister is willing to admit.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

South Korea’s KT&G Stock Hits All-Time High, Surges Over 50% and Breaks $100 Mark
South Korea’s KT&G Stock Hits All-Time High, Surges Over 50% and Breaks $100 Mark
The stock price of South Korean tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturer KT&G reached a peak of 144,000 KRW (approximately $104), marking an increase of over 50% from its lowest point this year.
Jul.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris Korea Launches New ILUMA-Compatible HeatStick “Teria Twilight Pearl” on June 26
Philip Morris Korea Launches New ILUMA-Compatible HeatStick “Teria Twilight Pearl” on June 26
PMI Korea has launched a new Teria series heatstick, “Twilight Pearl,” featuring a unique capsule design that allows for a flavor shift, catering to the taste preferences of adult smokers.
Jun.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
New FDA Chief’s 100-Day Report: Cracking Down on Illegal E-Cigarettes, Advancing AI Tools for Oversight
New FDA Chief’s 100-Day Report: Cracking Down on Illegal E-Cigarettes, Advancing AI Tools for Oversight
U.S. FDA chief Marty Makary marked his first 100 days in office by outlining key reforms aimed at speeding drug approvals and tightening oversight. The agency unveiled a “national priority review” program to cut drug review times from 10–12 months to as little as 1–2 months, and partnered with customs to seize nearly $34 million in illegal e-cigarette products. The FDA also piloted its first AI-assisted review and launched “Elsa,” an internal generative AI tool to modernize regulatory processes.
Jul.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product|E-cigarettes Draw Inspiration from Heated Tobacco Designs as Multiple Brands Launch Open Systems Similar to IQOS Iluma
Product|E-cigarettes Draw Inspiration from Heated Tobacco Designs as Multiple Brands Launch Open Systems Similar to IQOS Iluma
Recently, several e-cigarette brands have launched magnetic open-system devices with designs resembling heated tobacco products like IQOS Iluma. Some of these products are already on the market, while others remain in the demonstration phase, reflecting a new wave of evolution in industry structural design and user experience.
Jul.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
UK Study: Teen Vaping Rates Rise to Levels Last Seen in the 1970s
UK Study: Teen Vaping Rates Rise to Levels Last Seen in the 1970s
A new UK study finds that teen smoking rates among e-cigarette users have returned to levels seen in the 1970s, raising concerns that vaping may lead to nicotine addiction. Although youth smoking declined significantly over the past 50 years, one-third of teen vapers still continue to smoke.
Jul.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
KT&G Subsidiary Faces Facility Investment Dilemma as Capacity Expansion Outpaces Weak Order Demand
KT&G Subsidiary Faces Facility Investment Dilemma as Capacity Expansion Outpaces Weak Order Demand
KT&G subsidiary Taeya Industry booked heavy impairment losses after overinvesting in capacity based on inaccurate demand forecasts. Although KT&G aims to offset the damage through global value-chain expansion, Taeya’s financial health remains severely strained, and the company is now devising new export programs to utilize its idle facilities.
Jul.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai