The Foundation's position on Vaping

The best thing that you can do for your respiratory health is to be smokefree and vape free.

The Foundation acknowledges that vaping, along with wraparound quit smoking support, may help some people to quit tobacco cigarettes.

We recognise that the Ministry of Health needs to balance the availability of vape products as a quit smoking tool, with protecting young people and non-smokers from the harms of vaping.

We believe that currently this balance is off, and that more regulations are needed to protect young New Zealanders from these harms.

The Foundation welcomes recent proposals from the Government to tighten restrictions around vaping. However, we are continuing to push for the following measures:

  • Greater restrictions on maximum nicotine concentrations: We need to follow the European Union’s lead and restrict the maximum nicotine concentrations allowed in all vapes to 20mg/ml. The current minimum level is 50mg/ml.
  • Greater enforcement of the current rules, so that young people cannot access vapes so readily and stronger penalties for those breaking the rules.
  • Limit the number of retailers who can sell vapes, and keep vaping stores out of the immediate vicinity of schools.
  • Close the loophole that allows dairies and convenience stores to operate as Specialist Vaping Retailers (SVR) by cornering off part of their premises.
  • Banning disposable vaping products.

Read more about the Foundation’s position in this opinion piece by our CE Letitia Harding.


Medical Society Statements

World Health Organisation: Evidence reveals that these products are harmful to health and not safe.

European Lung Association: We cannot recommend tobacco harm reduction as a population-based strategy

American Lung Association: The American Lung Association is very concerned that we are at risk of losing another generation to tobacco-caused diseases as the result of e-cigarettes.

Canadian Medical Association: Health Canada Consultation on Proposed Vaping Products Promotion Regulations

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

American Association for Cancer Research & the American Society of Clinical Oncology: Updated Position Statement

Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand: Position statement

Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health: Position on vaping

Research into vaping and e-cigarettes