New Zealand
RestrictedOnline Sales
Allowed
Offline Sales
Allowed
Legal Age
18+
Ban Scope
Partial
Allowed Product Types
Pod SystemRefillable
Purchase Channels
Specialty StoreConvenience StoreOnline
Required Certifications
Registered with the New Zealand Ministry of Health
Complete Policy Details
Sales Bans
Disposable electronic cigarettes are completely banned
Latest Developments
Further reduction of nicotine upper limit: Implemented on October 7, 2025, the upper limit of nicotine concentration for disposable electronic cigarette products will be reduced from 50mg/mL to 35mg/mL (possibly further reduced in the future). Stores and professional e-cigarette retailers are no longer allowed to offer promotional activities such as gifts, cash rebates, or contests. The ban on offline display/brand display will be further expanded within 12 months; The promotion ban will come into full effect in June 2025. Starting from 2025, the pilot program for medical reimbursement support (Voucher) will be used for prescription nicotine replacement products, etc.
Policy Trends
Further tightening the nicotine concentration (35mg/mL) may lead to a further decrease. Strengthen the ban. The implementation of food standards has been strengthened. Following Australia's tobacco control direction, electronic cigarettes may only be sold in prescription pharmacies in the future. Future policies may completely ban seasoning products.
Taxation
There is no specific consumption tax, and a 15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied. Source: Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 (GST)
Sales Channel Restrictions
Only available for sale in licensed professional electronic cigarette stores. Tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors: Allow ordinary retailers (convenience stores, etc.) to sell these flavors. But from June 2025, packaging will require 70% warning and transparent display. The specific point of sale rules will apply to distributors from June 2025 and sellers from August 2025. Completely prohibit promotions and displays. Online sales must comply with age verification requirements and annual review. Only physical stores are authorized to sell electronic cigarette products (excluding tobacco/mint/menthol), and online packaging only requires age verification (such as RealMe or other age verification systems).
Age Restrictions
18+
Flavour Restrictions
Seasoning electronic cigarettes are only available for sale in professional electronic cigarette stores; Ordinary retailers can only sell tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors. Starting from March 21, 2024, only standard flavor names specified by the "flavor wheel" are allowed to be used.
Product Specifications
Nicotine concentration: free base ≤ 20mg/mL, nicotine salt ≤ 35mg/mL (upper limit reduced from October 2025). Disposable device capacity ≤ 2mL; e-liquid bottle ≤ 120mL (containing nicotine) or ≤ 120mL (zero nicotine unlimited). Must comply with AS/NZS 5377 (Australian/New Zealand Standard) or AS/NZS 60335 (Electrical Safety Standard). Battery over discharge/over charge/short circuit protection. Chip thermal limit security protection. Environmentally friendly design: The silica wick must pass testing to ensure no harmful particle release (silica wick detection). Disposable e-liquids must be labeled with a warning of 'disposable use'.
Hardware Requirements
1. Meet the standards for battery powered electrical equipment; 2. Anti short circuit and anti overdischarge mechanism; 3. Monitor battery voltage and charging current; 4. Provide nicotine dosage at a consistent level; 5. Serial batch number (can be replaced by labeling on disposable equipment packaging); 6. Silicon dioxide wicks must undergo emission testing (if needles or hazardous particles are generated, materials must be replaced); 7. Child protection packaging (child protection packaging complies with EN/ISO 8317); Equipped with anti overflow and current limiting devices.
Packaging Requirements
The health warning must cover 75% of the front and back area of the packaging, in both English and Maori: 'This product contains nicotine, which is a highly additive substance.'. "He nikotīni kei roto i tēnei mea, he matū tino whakawara"。 Prohibit the use of images such as fruits/desserts. After June 2025, plain packaging (Pantone 448C) must be used, and brand names can only use standard fonts and 12 point or less. Must include ingredient list, nicotine content, batch number, and manufacturer information. Caution: Do not let children come into contact "warning should be marked.
Advertising Restrictions
Completely prohibit any form of advertising and promotional sponsorship (including online and offline), and only allow non-public display within professional electronic cigarette retail stores. Gifts, cash rebates, and competitions/lotteries are prohibited. Sales points can only indicate product types, flavors, and prices. Starting from July 2025, it is prohibited to use brand/product names for any marketing on social media.
Notification Requirements
All electronic cigarette products must be notified to the Electronic Cigarette Regulatory Authority through the Health Advisory and Regulatory Platform (HARP). Manufacturers and importers must have a physical resident or registered company in New Zealand. The annual update fee is updated on January 31st each year (NZD 50 per product). The testing must be conducted by a laboratory accredited by ISO 17025. Major modifications (formula/ingredients/concentration/equipment parameters) must cancel the original notification and resubmit. Annual Market Data Notification: Submit sales data (sales volume, sales revenue, retail price, etc.) for the previous calendar year before January 31st each year. Adverse reactions must be reported through the CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring) electronic cigarette pharmacovigilance system.
Policy Documents
Smoke‑free Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) (as amended by the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2023) ; Smoke‑free Environments and Regulated Products Regulations 2021 (as amended 2024, effective 17 June 2025) ; Health (Vaping) Amendment Act 2023 (effective 17 June 2025) ; Ministry of Health Compliance Guidelines for Vaping Enforcement (2024)
Competent Authorities
Vaping Regulatory Authority (VRA), under the Ministry of Health NZ; Ministry of Health (Manatū Hauora) ; New Zealand Customs Service ; Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) battery waste recycling; Medsafe (Electronic Cigarette Product Registration); Intellectual Property Office (plain packaging enforcement)
Policy Details
Further reduction of nicotine upper limit: Implemented on October 7, 2025, the upper limit of nicotine concentration for disposable electronic cigarette products will be reduced from 50mg/mL to 35mg/mL (possibly further reduced in the future). Stores and professional e-cigarette retailers are no longer allowed to offer promotional activities such as gifts, cash rebates, or contests. The ban on offline display/brand display will be further expanded within 12 months; The promotion ban will come into full effect in June 2025. Starting from 2025, the pilot program for medical reimbursement support (Voucher) will be used for prescription nicotine replacement products, etc.
Further tightening the nicotine concentration (35mg/mL) may lead to a further decrease. Strengthen the ban. The implementation of food standards has been strengthened. Following Australia's tobacco control direction, electronic cigarettes may only be sold in prescription pharmacies in the future. Future policies may completely ban seasoning products.
Last Updated: 2026-10