An overview of notifiable products (vaping, herbal smoking and smokeless tobacco) retailing in New Zealand
There are two classes of notifiable product retailers in New Zealand:
- General retailers - a retailer that sells notifiable products which includes a limited vaping product range of flavours (tobacco, menthol and mint). These notifiable products are not the primary products they sell e.g. dairies, newsagents, supermarkets etc.
- General retailers of notifiable products do not require any prior approval to operate, but by 1 October 2023 they must have notified the Ministry they sell these products. More details on how to do this will be available later in the year after the Regulations are approved. Sign up to the newsletter to keep informed.
- Specialist vape retailers (SVR) - a retailer that sells vaping products with the full range of flavours. These retailers have been approved by the Vaping Regulatory Authority as they meet the prescribed criteria. If you’d like to become a specialist vape retailer, you must go through the application process and be approved.
Obligations, prohibitions and requirements
There are some obligations, prohibitions and restrictions that apply to all retailers of notifiable products and some that are specific to general retailers. These include the way you can advertise and promote notifiable products and who you can sell to. See also Restrictions on colourings and flavourings.
Becoming a specialist vape retailer (SVR)
If you wish to trade as a specialist vape retailer you need to apply to the Vaping Regulatory Authority.