Smokers in New Zealand are Still Waiting for a Promised Reform
New Zealand has successfully reduced smoking via vaping but lags on regulating oral nicotine products, leaving adult smokers without a legal, less harmful alternative.Summary
New Zealand has achieved a significant decline in smoking rates, with adult daily smoking at 6.8%, largely due to the widespread availability of vaping. However, the country has not followed through on a coalition commitment to reform regulation of oral nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, which remain illegal to sell. This leaves adult smokers who wish to switch with a confusing and unreliable route: importing pouches from overseas without local age checks, nicotine limits, or labeling rules. The article cites examples from the US FDA, Argentina, and Sweden, all of which have established regulatory frameworks for nicotine pouches to balance adult access with youth protection. It argues that New Zealand should regulate these products, implementing measures such as a minimum age of sale, nicotine limits, marketing restrictions, and retailer licensing. The piece concludes that regulating nicotine pouches is a logical next step to support harm reduction and protect young people, and urges the government to act before the term ends.
(Source：TradingView)
