New Zealand to Ban Disposable Vapes and Restrict Sales

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello Aims to Prevent Youth Vaping and Strengthen Regulations

The New Zealand government has swiftly passed the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) under urgency, introducing a ban on disposable vapes and imposing additional restrictions on vape sales. The legislation, which aims to prevent youth vaping and establish a more robust regulatory framework, includes measures such as display restrictions and increased penalties for unlawful sales to minors.

Key Changes in the Bill

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello outlined the four main changes in the bill:

The manufacture, sale, supply, and distribution of disposable vapes will be banned.
Penalties for unlawful sales of regulated products to minors will increase, with the current $10,000 maximum penalty for retailers rising to $100,000.
Retail visibility restrictions will be imposed on vaping products.
Further proximity restrictions will be added for specialist vape retailers, requiring them to be at least 100 metres away from early childhood services, in addition to the existing 300-metre restriction for schools and marae.

Addressing the Unregulated Vaping Market

Costello acknowledged that while vaping has helped people quit smoking, it is not intended for children and has gone unregulated in New Zealand for too long. The new legislation aims to address this issue by implementing practical changes and a stronger regulatory regime.

Penalties for breaching the disposable vape ban will be substantial, with manufacturers, importers, or large retailers facing fines of up to $400,000, and any other person facing fines of up to $50,000.

Also Read:
New Zealand Vaping Regulation and Smokefree History

Visibility Restrictions and Enforcement

The bill introduces new visibility restrictions for vaping products. Specialist vape retailers will be prohibited from displaying vaping products and their packages if they are visible from outside the store. General vape retailers, such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and dairies, will be subject to the same rules that currently apply to other regulated products like cigarettes, meaning that any part of the product or its package must not be visible from outside the store or inside any area of the store accessible to the public.

Costello emphasized that the measures would be welcomed by parents, teachers, and health professionals. To allow retailers to prepare for the changes and to facilitate the recruitment and training of dedicated smokefree enforcement officers, the disposable vape ban and visibility restrictions will come into force six months after the bill’s passage.

As New Zealand takes decisive action to address the unregulated vaping market and prevent youth vaping, the government’s swift passage of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) marks a significant step towards strengthening public health regulations and protecting the well-being of the nation’s young people.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.