Following the March announcement of the legalisation of e-cigarettes , the Kiwi health ministry will now add smokeless tobacco products such as lollies, SNUS and nicotine gels to the list as part of its Smokefree 2025 campaign.
In announcing the legalisation of e-cigarettes in March, Health Minister Nicky Wagner said the department had decided to go with the less harmful approach because the scientific evidence on the safety of the products was still developing. Last Wednesday, she added that it would go ahead with a strategy to allow other smokeless tobacco products.
“This is part of a new mindset, a more progressive approach that builds on new technology products that are available around the world and gives smokers an alternative to cigarettes,” she said.
Ironically, New Zealand’s current law prohibits the sale and distribution of all tobacco products except traditional cigarettes. And despite the numerous studies on the subject, Wagner points out that some products like SNUS and HNB are safer than combustible tobacco.
Management of tobacco products according to toxicity level
This move is welcomed by most health experts who have tried to convince the government to regulate tobacco products based on their level of harm, and they have the data to back their argument. In the UK, e-cigarettes are used as a smoking cessation tool, which has led to the second lowest smoking rate in Europe. Sweden is in first place because of the use of SNUS in its smoking cessation program.
Source: Diane Caruana - Vapingpost
Translated by: The Vape Club
