44082 (2024). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Associate Minister of Health

44082 (2024). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Associate Minister of Health: Does the Minister agree with this advice from senior Ministry staff member that proposals to allow sale of oral nicotine products ‘would risk increasing young people’s exposure to nicotine products without adding clear benefits for people who smoke or the achievement of the Smokefree 2025 goal’, if not, why not?

Hon Casey Costello: I agree that consideration of the risk to young people, and those not addicted to nicotine, as well as the safeguards that would need to be put in place is a critical component of potentially introducing any new products to support smoking cessation. I have heard from stop smoking services that the more tools they can offer smokers to quit, the better. If a potential stop smoking tool has a lower risk profile than cigarettes, there is merit in exploring how it can be introduced safely.