Wellington, 08.08.2024 — The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) is deeply concerned about New Zealand’s decision to ban disposable vape products. With the country close to becoming smoke-free, the WVA warns that this ban could undermine the progress made in reducing smoking rates.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has announced the ban with the intention of reducing adolescent vaping. The new regulations prohibit the manufacture and sale of all non-rechargeable and non-refillable vapes, including single-use containers such as pre-filled tanks, pods, and cartridges.

The WVA warns that this decision could have detrimental effects on public health, potentially reversing the progress New Zealand has made in reducing conventional smoking.

Alberto Gómez Hernández, politisk leder hos World Vapers' Alliance, kommenterede: “"Det er vigtigt at forhindre teenagere i at bruge nikotinprodukter, og der bør håndhæves strenge aldersregler for at nå dette mål. At forbyde engangsvapes og forskellige pod-systemer til voksne forbrugere vil dog have negative konsekvenser for folkesundheden og bringe de fremskridt hen imod et røgfrit samfund, der er opnået i det sidste årti, i fare. Denne tilgang anerkender ikke den afgørende rolle, som engangsvapes spiller i at hjælpe rygere med at overgå til cigaretter."”

Gómez Hernández further elaborated on the potential consequences of the ban:

“New Zealand’s progress toward becoming smoke-free is a prime example of how effective harm reduction strategies are. Unfortunately, this ban on all non-refillable vapes risks undermining that progress, making vaping less accessible to adult smokers seeking less risky alternatives to traditional tobacco.”

The World Vapers’ Alliance is calling on New Zealand’s health authorities to reconsider this prohibitionist approach and urges the government to maintain its commitment to progressive tobacco harm reduction strategies, which have proven effective in lowering smoking rates and improving public health outcomes.