Tobacco

The objectives of the Review of Smoke-free Environments Regulations 1999 are:

To ensure that New Zealand complies with the mandatory requirements of Article 11 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as a minimum.
To determine what warnings, messages, and other information (including the possibility of pictorial warnings) should optimally be required to be displayed on all tobacco products.
To review whether the use of certain terms, descriptors and markings should be regulated or prohibited on the grounds of actual or potential ability to mislead or deceive consumers.
To review options for reducing the harm caused by tobacco use.

The Review covers but is not limited to:

Examining the size and nature of health warnings on tobacco products. The FCTC states that the warnings must be a minimum of 30% of principal display areas and should be 50% or more of principal display areas.
Developing options for health warnings, including options for pictorial warnings.
Reviewing the use of terms on tobacco products that might mislead or deceive consumers. This includes Investigating people's perceptions of the terms 'light' and 'mild' in relation to tobacco products.
International research has shown that these terms may be misleading smokers into thinking they are smoking a safer cigarette when in fact the effects of 'light', 'mild' and 'regular' products are equally harmful.
Reviewing the disclosure of information to government, on tobacco constituents, the constituents of tobacco smoke and additives to tobacco products.
Reviewing the information on constituents of tobacco products to be on or inserted in tobacco packaging.
Considering the required references to nicotine / tar / CO levels and whether they provide accurate information.
Canvassing options for harm reduction measures including:
- The possible development of a regime for the regulation of novel tobacco products and
- Regulating constituents of tobacco.

National Drug Policy New Zealand