Vaping Fails to Win Support from New Zealand Ministry of Health

“There is not enough evidence to prove that electronic cigarettes are an effective tool for helping people quit smoking,” the New Zealand Ministry of Health wrote in a submission to the government cabinet.

The public consultation on the legalization of electronic cigarette sales began in August and closed earlier this week.

Electronic cigarettes simulate smoking by heating a liquid that users inhale.

If they are used to vape tobacco-derived nicotine or electronic cigarettes, their sale is currently illegal unless they are sold on the basis that vaping helps others quit smoking.

The cabinet document, released by Deputy Health Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga in July, stated that while the Ministry of Health believes vaping is less harmful than smoking, it informed the reasons against legalizing electronic cigarettes as a quitting tool.

“Currently, there is not enough evidence to recommend electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid,” the report stated.

People seeking to quit are advised to contact quit smoking hotlines or use approved medications such as nicotine patches, it said.

Only approved medications can be sold for quitting smoking, and so far, only one electronic cigarette company is doing so.

This company has been granted marketing authorization for quitting smoking in the UK. Manufacturers wishing to make similar claims in New Zealand must submit their products to Medsafe for approval as medicines.

The costs of this process range from $7,000 to $88,000.

While there is some evidence that vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco, there is still not enough data on the short-term or long-term health effects of electronic cigarette use on users, even regarding their ability to quit smoking nicotine, the document pointed out.

“There are concerns that experimentation among young people and the use of electronic cigarettes may lead to nicotine addiction and/or have a gateway effect that leads teenagers to start smoking,” it said.

There has also been an increase in young people trying electronic cigarettes, with evidence of the industry targeting them with appealing flavors like chocolate or strawberry.

“Various signs indicate that tobacco industry involvement has increased over the past few years; however, we do not provide quantifiable information on its current market share,” the report stated.

Electronic cigarettes should be available - Professor

However, Marewa Glover, an associate professor of public health at Massey University, stated that there is currently no evidence that electronic cigarettes encourage young people to start smoking.

“Flavors are very important for adults, especially for those switching from smoking.”

“This is very, very important; we should not overlook this, and we should not impose unnecessary, unfounded restrictions on adults switching to vaping.”

These devices should be freely available to help people quit smoking, she said.