Background: Action on Smoking and Health New Zealand (ASH NZ) and the Smokefree Coalition commissioned a review of New Zealand and international literature on tobacco product regulation and interviews with experts and stakeholders in the tobacco control field. The research focused on frameworks of regulation that could minimize harm in New Zealand from tobacco and nicotine products. The role of Potential Reduced Exposure Products (PREPs) within a tobacco product regulation framework was also explored.

Discussion: Many questions are raised about how to move tobacco regulation forward. This research seeks to provide a balanced overview of the main ideas and issues in tobacco regulation. Should the goal be totally eliminating smoked tobacco? Will introducing non-combustible nicotine alternatives provide the means to eliminating smoked tobacco? Should we turn our attention to supply of tobacco and intervene in tobacco sales and distribution in order to disrupt the exploitative relationship between a profit motivated company and nicotine addicts?

Conclusion: ASH has identified a number of tobacco control policy priorities for New Zealand based on this regulation review. These are the establishment of a tobacco control authority (TCA), introduction of fire-safe cigarettes and a commitment to research into the feasibility of TCA/government control of tobacco distribution and sales. The high level of expertise and resources required for effective product regulation mean New Zealand will need to rely on international resources and could benefit from pooling resources at a regional or international level.