Legal action against tobacco 'sticks' - Expert reaction
18 May 2017
Tobacco sticks designed to be heated in an electronic device have run afoul of NZ law, with charges laid against their
manufacturer.
The Ministry of Health has charged tobacco giant Philip Morris with illegally importing and selling a new product that
heats tobacco sticks in a battery-powered device rather than burning them.
The device itself is permitted, but the tobacco sticks it uses -- known as HEETS -- have been deemed illegal under the
Smoke Free Environments Act 1990.
A media release from MoH states that charges have been laid at the Wellington District Court and the case has been set
down for its first appearance hearing 2 June 2017.
The SMC gathered expert reaction to the announcement. Feel free to use these comments in your reporting.
Professor Janet Hoek, co-director ASPIRE 2025, University of Otago, comments:
"It is good to see the Ministry of Health holding tobacco companies to account, but it would be even better to see the
Government develop a comprehensive plan that will achieve the Smokefree2025 goal.
"These tobacco stick products are marketed as 'smoke-free' replacements for conventional cigarettes, and promoted as a
means to reduce harm from smoking. However the research on these new types of products is limited.
"Before any new tobacco products are introduced to New Zealand, we need clear evidence that these will contribute to the
Smokefree2025 goal. That is, new products should have to demonstrate they support complete smoking cessation more
effectively than existing cessation options.
"If the Government does allow more diverse tobacco products to be sold within New Zealand, it is crucial that it does
not see this step as an alternative to the well-established measures known to reduce smoking prevalence. It must
continue with its programme of tobacco excise tax increases, and it should use the tax revenue obtained from tobacco to
support quitting among groups where smoking prevalence peaks.
"It should also take urgent steps to reduce the widespread availability of tobacco products, and make tobacco more
difficult to consume in settings where second hand smoke will harm others (such as cars)."
ends