New Zealand to Ban Sale of Disposable E-Cigarettes

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China Central Television (CCTV) News App 2024-03-20, 14:14:51 Views: 106,751

On the 20th of March, the New Zealand government announced a ban on the sale of , coupled with stricter regulation of the vaping retail industry.

Reuters quoted New Zealand health official Kathy Costello, who stated that the government will impose a complete ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes while reviewing the licensing of vaping retailers across the nation. Retailers violating the law by selling e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 will face steeper fines.

According to Costello, the rate of regular cigarette smoking has "significantly decreased" in recent years due to smokers switching to vaping. However, the rising number of teenagers using e-cigarettes has alarmed parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals.

Costello emphasized the government's commitment to reducing teenage vaping while continuing to encourage more people to quit traditional cigarettes, with the aim of reducing the proportion of daily smokers to 5% or less of the total population by 2025.

E-cigarettes are known to contain nicotine, similar to traditional cigarettes, and pose health risks despite lacking harmful substances like tar.