Jenny Salesa
The government introduced to Parliament on February 24, 2020 a new Bill that will regulate vaping.
‘The Smoke-Free Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill’ will receive its first reading in March when the Bill will then be referred to the Health Select Committee.
Striking a balance
The Bill aims to strike the right balance between making sure that vaping is available for smokers who want to use it as a quit tool for cigarettes while ensuring that vaping products are not marketed or sold to children and young people.
This is a considered approach that responds to many of the concerns regarding vaping.
I am proud that our government is introducing a Bill that helps New Zealand achieve our Smoke-Free 2025 Goal.
Our Government has heard from a large number of smokers who say that vaping is helpful for them to able to quit cancer-causing cigarettes.
However we have also heard from parents, teachers and principals who want to make sure vaping companies are stopped from marketing to children.
The Government is keen to hear from New Zealanders about where they think that the appropriate balance for vaping regulation should be set.
I look forward to everyone having their say at Select Committee.
Key Changes
This is the most significant change to New Zealand’s Smoke-Free laws since they were introduced 30 years ago.
The new Law will (a) ban the sale of vaping products to under-18-year-old people (b) prohibit advertising of vaping products and smokeless tobacco (c) restrict the sale of flavoured vaping products and e-cigarettes to R-18 specialty stores (d) limit general retailers, including dairies and service stations, to only sell three flavours and (e) introduce a product safety system, which enables the Ministry of health to recall, suspend and issue warnings about vaping products.
The Bill will also regulate vaping product safety comprehensively.
This will include devices, flavours and ingredients and ensure that vaping products are available for those who want to quit smoking.
Jenny Salesa is Associate Minister for Health. She also holds the ministerial portfolios for Ethnic Communities, Customs and Building and Construction.
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