This section provides information about how the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 regulates vaping, herbal smoking and smokeless tobacco products in New Zealand and what that means for retailers, manufacturers and importers of vape products.
Latest updates
6 June 2024
In 2021 the Ministry of Health provided advice to businesses that a parent company of a franchise could apply to be an SVR, and a franchisee subsidiary company would only need to apply for approved vaping premises approval. This advice was incorrect.
The Ministry has determined that the entity receiving money from the sale of vaping products must be the same entity that holds approval as a Specialist Vape retailer (SVR). Where the Approved Vaping Premises (AVP), and the SVR are operated by different entities it is considered that the AVP is not approved correctly and therefore not operating in compliance with the Act.
On 6 June 2024 the Ministry contacted affected businesses requesting information on their operating structure.
We have contacted potentially impacted companies directly to inform them about what the legislation requires for their operating model. Those companies that do not have the correct approvals will need to reapply for the correct approvals by 6 October 2024. The Ministry of Health is waiving the approval fee for affected stores for four months – reflecting that much of the licensing work required by the Authority has already been done – and we will work with businesses who are required to retrospectively apply for approval.
20 March 2024
The Government has today reconfirmed a range of requirements for reusable vaping products coming into effect on 21 March 2024, but has put on hold other requirements to allow for further review of the regulations: Information for manufacturers and importers (notifiers)
26 January 2024
Update on annual sales returns. Read more.
Adverse Reactions
To help monitor vaping safety in New Zealand, anyone who suspects that a vaping product has caused harm should report it to the Vaping Regulatory Authority via HARP.
Consumers - Vaping Facts
The Vaping Facts website provides New Zealand consumers with information about vaping.
Make a complaint
If your complaint is about vape sales to under 18s or vaping in a workplace then contact your local Public Health Service
If you have a complaint about a vaping product, vaping substance or vaping device then you can let the Vaping Regulatory Authority (VRA) know through the complaints form in the HARP portal
Complaints relating to an adverse reaction to a vaping product should be reported to HARP