ASH New Zealand’s Report: A Surge Strategy for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025

Source from:  Vapingpost 12/11/2019

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) New Zealand, has released a report titled, “A Surge Strategy for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 - The role and regulation of vaping and other low-risk smoke-free nicotine products,” just in time for the Amendment Bill that the Health Ministry is set to present to Parliament.

“This report confirms the critical importance of vaping and the availability of vape products. If the Government is serious about tobacco harm reduction it will reflect carefully on this before tabling the Smoke-free Environments (Vaping) Amendment Bill,” says Ben Pryor, spokesperson for VTANZ.

The ASH report says that the Government presently has the opportunity to introduce top standards, by developing a framework that delivers risk-relative regulations for alternative nicotine products, and emphasizing the difference between tobacco and non-tobacco products.

The importance of regulating sensibly.
The report points out that key features of a framework would include responsible marketing to adults, appropriate advert controls (not a ban) and recognizing that flavours play an important role in encouraging adult smokers to switch to vaping. Additionally, it emphasizes that vaping products should meet specific safety standards for devices, liquids and ingredients.

Newly launched vaping association, VTANZ, is in support with “the implementation of world-class product standards and safety regime to protect consumers, as well as R18 sales, and having public policy that genuinely protects youth.”  Enditem