New Zealand’s New Vaping Rules Require Devices to Have Removable Batteries

On August 27, New Zealand's Health Minister Ayesha Verrall announced new regulations aimed at restricting youth access to e-cigarettes, which will officially take effect on September 21 this year. Notably, the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party has announced a campaign promise to limit the number of e-cigarette stores to 600, which is less than half of the current number. The Labour government will increase fines for adults supplying e-cigarette products to minors by 100%, from up to NZD 5,000 (approximately CNY 36,000) to up to NZD 10,000 (approximately CNY 72,000); fines for retailers found selling e-cigarette products to minors will increase from up to NZD 10,000 to up to NZD 15,000 (approximately CNY 110,000). Health Minister Ayesha Verrall stated that if the Labour Party is re-elected, they will work to make e-cigarette products less visible in stores, similar to restrictions on tobacco.

The new regulations require that all e-cigarette devices sold in New Zealand must have removable batteries; e-cigarettes must be kept as far away from children and young people as possible, with new specialized e-cigarette stores prohibited within 300 meters of schools. Additionally, the regulations impose specific requirements on e-cigarette flavor names, implementing child safety mechanisms. Flavor names such as cotton candy, strawberry jelly, and donuts will be banned, and only generic names that accurately describe the flavor, such as orange or berry, will be allowed. The maximum nicotine concentration allowed in e-cigarettes has been lowered. The maximum nicotine concentration in disposable e-cigarettes is reduced to 20mg/mL, while the maximum concentration for reusable e-cigarettes is set at 28.5mg/mL.