WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The New Zealand government announced that it has overturned a groundbreaking law prohibiting tobacco sales to future generations, despite concerns raised by researchers and advocates about the potentially deadly consequences.
Repealed on February 27, the world’s strictest anti-tobacco regulations, set to take effect in July, bars sales to individuals born after January 1, 2009. The legislation also aims to reduce nicotine levels in smoked tobacco products and slash the number of tobacco retailers by over 90 percent.
The newly elected coalition government, in office since October, affirmed the repeal as an urgent matter, allowing it to discard the law without soliciting public feedback, as previously outlined.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello emphasized the government’s commitment to curbing smoking but indicated a shift in regulatory strategy to discourage the habit and mitigate its harm.
“While our coalition government remains dedicated to reducing smoking rates, we are exploring alternative regulatory approaches to achieve this goal,” Costello stated, hinting at forthcoming measures to expand smoking cessation resources. Additionally, tighter vaping regulations are on the horizon to deter youth usage.
Criticism has mounted against the decision, particularly concerning its potential impact on public health outcomes in New Zealand. Moreover, fears persist that the repeal could exacerbate health disparities, particularly among Maori and Pasifika communities, which have higher smoking rates.
Janet Hoek, a researcher at Otago University, condemned the repeal, highlighting its departure from evidence-based policies and its adverse effects on health equity.
“Extensive clinical trials and modeling studies indicate that the legislation would have significantly boosted smoking cessation rates and erected formidable barriers against youth initiation,” Hoek asserted, underscoring the missed opportunity to address the tobacco epidemic effectively.
