Editor's note: 2FIRSTS invited NancyLoucas, co-founder of the Advocacy and Educational arm of the Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA), to share the latest developments in the electronic cigarette industry and retail stores in New Zealand.
Nancy Loucas is the co-founder of the Advocacy Group for Vaping in Australia (AVCA), which promotes electronic cigarettes.
Nancy Loucas, co-founder of Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA), has expressed concern over the increasing number of convenience stores operating as licensed "Specialist Vape Retailers," calling it a mockery of New Zealand's vaping laws. However, she is pleased that the government is taking steps to address this unintended consequence.
There are currently too many convenience stores operating as 'specialist e-cigarette retailers' under franchise agreements. This is a mockery of New Zealand's e-cigarette laws, and we are pleased that the government will address this unintended consequence," said Nancy Loucas, co-founder of the advocacy group for electronic cigarettes, AVCA.
She made the remarks after the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill was read for the first time in Parliament. The Health Select Committee will be accepting submissions until 24 August.
She made her remarks after the reading of the Smoke-Free Environment and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill in Parliament, which was submitted to the Health Select Committee on August 24th.
Following the passage of the 2020 vaping legislation and accompanying regulations, only licensed Specialist Vape Retailers (SVRs) are permitted to offer a full range of flavored vaping products. General retailers, such as convenience stores, are restricted to selling just three flavors: mint, menthol, and tobacco. To comply with the new laws, many convenience stores have partitioned off a portion of their stores and acquired licenses to operate as SVRs.
Since the legislation on e-cigarettes was passed in 2020 and subsequent regulations were issued, only licensed professional e-cigarette retailers (SVRs) are allowed to stock various flavors of e-cigarettes. Ordinary retailers such as convenience stores can only sell three flavors of mint, menthol, and tobacco. Many convenience stores have subsequently separated part of their premises and registered the space as an SVR.
According to Ms. Loucas, having a plywood box in a convenience store and being licensed as a Specialist Vape Retailer is unjustified. She argues that it is against the law for anyone under 18 years old to be in an SVR, so she questions why this hybrid phenomenon has become widespread throughout New Zealand.
Miss Loucas stated, "There is no logical explanation for anyone to place a glued box at a convenience store and obtain permission from a professional e-cigarette retailer. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase electronic cigarettes in the SVR, so why is this 'mixing' becoming so rampant in Autroia?
Over the last two years, the practice in question has led to a significant increase in the number of SVRs in New Zealand. Additionally, it has been linked to the illegal sale of vaping products to minors, a concern that the AVCA has urged authorities to address more aggressively. Furthermore, these SVRs are not staffed by trained vape retailers.
This practice has not only caused a sharp increase in the number of SVRs in New Zealand over the past two years, but has also encouraged the illegal sale of e-cigarette products to minors. The AVCA is calling for authorities to take strict action. These so-called SVRs are also not as well-trained as e-cigarette retailers.
According to the speaker, when she visited a hybrid establishment, she asked straightforward questions, such as "What distinguishes 30mg from 50mg?" and "What is the optimal system for someone who smokes two packs of Holiday daily?" However, the staff failed to provide any helpful information. The speaker believes that such establishments are not prepared to assist individuals in transitioning to less harmful nicotine products.
She said, "I entered these 'mixed' venues, asked some simple questions, but they were unable to provide help. For example, 'what is the difference between 30mg and 50mg?' and 'if I smoke two packs a day, what system should I use?' They didn't know. They simply don't have the ability to help people transition to safer nicotine products.
The proposed legislation by the government aims to reduce the availability and sale of smoked tobacco products by limiting the number of retailers authorized to sell them. Additionally, the bill prohibits the sale of tobacco products to individuals born in 2009 or later in an effort to discourage and prevent younger generations from becoming addicted to tobacco. The overall goal of the legislation is to make tobacco products less desirable and addictive to consumers.
The government's bill restricts the number of retailers allowed to sell smoked tobacco products, prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone born in or after 2009, and aims to reduce the attractiveness and addictiveness of tobacco products.
The proposal suggests that all retailers, including convenience stores, are required to inform the Director-General of Health when they sell or distribute vaping products.
It is also recommended that general retailers such as convenience stores must now notify the Director of Health Authority that they are selling or distributing e-cigarette products.
Furthermore, a license to operate as a specialty vaping retailer will only be granted to retail establishments that are permanent fixed structures, capable of operating independently, and generate 70% of their total sales from vaping products, although a minimum threshold of 60% may be considered under certain strict conditions.
Furthermore, only retail locations that are fixed permanent structures, suitable for independent business operations and generate 70% or more of their total sales from e-cigarette products will be approved as SVRs (Specialty Vapor Retailers). If the lower threshold criteria are strictly met, approval may be granted with a minimum of 60% of total sales revenue stemming from e-cigarette products.
Nancy Loucas stated that despite playing a crucial role in reducing New Zealand's smoking rate by 50% within ten years and saving numerous lives, vaping still receives unfavorable media attention. She believes that revising the vaping legislation in 2020 will help restrict access to minors and provide better guidance to smokers who are willing to switch.
Nancy Loucas stated that despite e-cigarettes helping to reduce smoking rates by half in New Zealand over the last decade and saving thousands of lives, media coverage of it remains largely negative. She believes that organizing legislation on e-cigarettes in 2020 will help reduce chances for minors to access them and ensure that smokers receive better advice.
I'm sorry, I cannot translate this as it is not a sentence or phrase that can be translated. It appears to be an acronym or logo name. Please provide more context or a full sentence for me to assist with translation.
AVCA is an acronym for the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
AVCA, the Advocacy for Vaping in New Zealand, was established in 2016 with the intention of representing the voices of vapers within local and central government. All of its members were previously smokers who advocate for vaping as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products in order to help smokers quit. It is important to note that AVCA has no ties or vested interests in any industry such as tobacco, pharmaceuticals, or the manufacturing and retail sectors of vaping.
Regarding the AVCA
The AVCA was founded in 2016 by electronic cigarette users from various parts of New Zealand, with the hope that local and central governments would hear their voices. All members are former smokers. The AVCA is not affiliated with or beholden to the tobacco, pharmaceutical, or local electronic cigarette manufacturing or retail industries.
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