The law, which was expected to come into effect in July last year, would ban the sale of tobacco products to people born after January 1, 2009, and force manufacturers to reduce the nicotine content of their products. Notably, the number of tobacco retailers would also be cut by 90%.
New Zealand is set to lift the world's first tobacco ban. Photo: Reuters
The new coalition government elected in October quickly confirmed the repeal would take place on Tuesday, allowing the law to be removed without a public consultation.
Deputy Health Minister Casey Costello said the coalition government was committed to reducing smoking but was taking a different regulatory approach to discourage the habit and reduce the harm it causes.
“I will soon be introducing a package of measures in cabinet to strengthen the tools available to help people quit smoking,” said Deputy Minister Costello, adding that vaping regulations would also be tightened to deter young people.
The decision, which has been heavily criticised for its potential impact on health outcomes in New Zealand, has also drawn criticism over concerns it could have a greater impact on Māori and Pasifika, groups with higher smoking rates.
"Large clinical trials and modelling studies show that this law would rapidly increase quit rates among smokers and make it much harder for young people to start smoking," said researcher Janet Hoek at the University of Otago.
Mai Anh (according to Reuters)
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