AUSTRALIA & NZ
Tobacco Regulation: Australia
September 2026: Australian Coalition Proposes 80% Tobacco Tax Cut to Smash Illicit Cigarette Market Australia’s federal Opposition Coalition has unveiled a policy to slash the national tobacco excise by 80%, proposing a dramatic tax cut designed to destroy the profit margins driving the country’s rampant illicit tobacco market. Under the
Australia: Nicotine Pouches
July 2026: New Australia Regulations Ban Personal Importation of Nicotine Pouches The Australian Government has established new regulations to restrict access to nicotine pouches, citing concerns over public health and the growing appeal of these products to younger demographics. Under the new rules, which take effect on July 24, 2026,
Australia: Cigarette Market
July 2026: Australian Smoking and Vaping Rates Decline to Historic Lows, AIHW Survey Shows Smoking and vaping rates in Australia have either declined or stabilised, according to the 2025 National Drug Strategy Household Survey released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The data indicates that daily smoking
New Zealand: Cigarette Market
April 2026: New Zealand Cigarette Market Under Pressure as Illicit Trade and Vaping Weigh on Industry Performance British American Tobacco (BAT) and Imperial Brands have reported weaker financial results, highlighting mounting structural pressures on New Zealand’s legal tobacco market, including a rapidly expanding illicit trade, high excise taxes, and accelerating
New Zealand: Vapes
February 2026: New Zealand Approves First Quit‑Vaping Medicine as Youth Use Climbs New Zealand’s medicines regulator Medsafe approved the country’s first product specifically indicated to help people quit vaping, marking a milestone in clinical support for nicotine dependence. The product now recommended for this purpose is Nicorette QuickMist, a nicotine mouth
New Zealand: Nicotine Pouches
December 2025: New Zealand Lawmakers Clash Over Plans to Introduce Oral Nicotine Products A contentious session took place in the parliamentary Health Select Committee in which the rollout of smokeless nicotine and tobacco products (like nicotine pouches or “snus”) became the centre of a heated debate. The government, via the
Australia: Vapes
October 2025: TGA issues a warning to online delivery service providers not to breach the laws regarding the supply and advertising of vaping products The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued a warning to online delivery service providers not to breach the Australian laws regarding the supply and advertising of vaping
New Zealand: Heated Tobacco
July 2025: Heated tobacco product tax cut is extended by two years The tax break for heated tobacco products is extended for two years in New Zealand. In July 2024, the Government reduced the excise tax on heated tobacco by 50% for one-year trial subject to an evaluation. The aim
Tobacco Regulation: New Zealand
September 2024: New Zealand Escalates Youth Vaping Crackdown with New Amendment Bill The coalition government in New Zealand introduced the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2), signalling a further tightening of its vaping framework with a clear focus on reducing youth uptake. The proposal builds on the
