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, Gerente de Políticas de la Alianza Mundial de Vapeadores, comentó: “Prevenir que los adolescentes consuman productos con nicotina es fundamental, y para lograrlo se deben aplicar estrictas regulaciones de edad. Sin embargo, prohibir los vapeadores desechables y diversos sistemas de cápsulas para consumidores adultos tendrá consecuencias negativas para la salud pública y pondrá en peligro el progreso hacia una sociedad sin humo logrado en la última década. Este enfoque ignora el papel fundamental que desempeñan los vapeadores desechables para ayudar a los fumadores a dejar el tabaco.”

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.