VIANZ calls on Government to monitor vape ban impact to protect smokefree progress
With the Government’s ban on disposable vapes set to come into force next week (17 June 2025), both the vaping industry and consumers are preparing for a wave of changes. While the Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand (VIANZ) supports the intent behind the policy – to reduce youth access and address the environmental impact of single-use products – the association is urging caution about the potential unintended consequences.
We have consistently called for a full ban on disposable vapes, rather than incremental technical fixes, and we welcome the environmental benefits it will bring. But the transition must be managed carefully to avoid driving consumers back to smoking or into unregulated markets.
Supporting ex-smokers to stay smokefree
While refillable pod systems may help fill the gap left by disposable vapes, they’re not a straightforward replacement. There’s a real risk that removing the most convenient smoking cessation option could drive consumers back to cigarettes.
Additionally, the upcoming changes to advertising and visibility rules pose challenges for consumers. Many retailers, especially online, have relied on clear product information and guidance to help adults make informed choices. New restrictions will limit what can be communicated, making it harder for consumers to understand available options or find support to switch.
These changes will not just affect products – they will affect people. For thousands of New Zealanders, particularly in rural areas, disposables have provided a simple and effective way to leave cigarettes behind. Limiting access to information at the same time risks undermining these efforts.
Greater enforcement needed
VIANZ has long held serious concerns about enforcement. Early warnings from the UK, where a disposable vape ban came into effect on 1 June, suggest black market sales are likely to increase. This risk is particularly relevant to New Zealand, where some of the largest illicit brands that operate in Australia’s 2 billion dollar vaping black market, are also present.
Vape retailers and manufacturers pay significant annual fees to the Ministry of Health to support vaping regulation. While the industry accepts this as part of doing business, there’s concern that too little is spent on enforcement. Without proper oversight, the risk of a growing black-market increases – something the industry is keen to avoid.
Protecting progress and staying on track
According to the 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey, Māori adult smoking rates have fallen from 19.9% to 14.7% since 2019/20 – progress that coincided with a rise in vaping. But experts warn that national smokefree gains are now plateauing. This plateau corresponds with increased regulation of vaping and the retraction of planned regulation of smoking.
We share health groups’ concerns that tobacco, with its well-documented harms, must continue to face strong regulatory scrutiny. Yet we now find ourselves in the absurd position where the vaping industry is more heavily regulated than the tobacco industry.
VIANZ urges the Government to closely monitor the ban’s impact on smoking rates, particularly among priority groups, and ensure regulations don’t inadvertently harm those most vulnerable.
Vaping regulation must be viewed in the context of the devastating harm caused by smoking, which kills two out of every three users.
Strong rules and environmental responsibility are essential, but the broader goal must remain to reduce smoking and improve public health outcomes. We urge the Government to track the data, remain responsive to what it shows, and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach that could unintentionally harm the very communities we’re trying to protect.
In summary, VIANZ supports the disposable ban but urges:
Robust enforcement to stop illicit sales.
Continued access to refillable products where tobacco is sold.
Expansion of recycling and producer-responsibility measures.
Only by doing so can we safeguard both youth and smokefree progress.
