Home Politics Oceania NZ’s Rushed E-Cig Bill Could Decimate the COVID-19-Weakened Industry

NZ’s Rushed E-Cig Bill Could Decimate the COVID-19-Weakened Industry

The Vaping Trade Association of New Zealand (VTANZ) is concerned that the Government’s decision to rush the recently approved e-cig bill, when the industry's current main focus and concern is surviving the current COVID-19 outbreak, is unreasonable.

Diane Caruana

March 25, 2020

Whilst a bill normally takes six months to progress through Parliament, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa is pushing for this bill to be fast-tracked to just three months.

As across the globe, New Zealand’s vaping industry is currently striving to survive the current pandemic and is focused on adapting in a way that minimises exposure, whilst keeping their business afloat. Meanwhile, the Kiwi government is rushing the recently released Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill.

VTANZ spokesperson, Jonathan Devery said that whilst a bill normally takes up to six months to progress through Parliament, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa is pushing for this bill to be fast-tracked to just three months. Public submissions being called by the Health Select Committee, will close on April 1st – in just over a week.

Due to COVID-19, the industry is currently focused on adapting and surviving

Devery pointed out that while the independent vape industry has been calling for e-cig regulations for the last five years, it is unfair that after 18 months of the Government promising it, it has set in place such a challenging consultation deadline simply to ensure the bill is passed before the election.

“Manufacturers and distributors are now busy developing policies and procedures to mitigate the potential exposure of coronavirus on their workforce, while many retailers are working on ways to keep their doors open given falling foot traffic.”

“Now’s not the time to force local vape businesses to make rushed submissions on such a fundamental piece of legislation to regulate our entire industry, particularly when the Minister has long promoted the submission and select committee process as the best place for businesses to raise their concerns,” he says.

Get in touch with NZ authorities

Devery is encouraging vapers and other interested parties willing to make a submission to do so via the parliamentary website. “We strongly encourage New Zealand vape businesses and vapers to try and make some time before 1 April and have their say. We can’t let Big Tobacco win this war!”