Ministry of Health and Asthma Foundation begin talks on e-cigarettes and vaping

Ministry of Health (MoH) and Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) met to discuss the future advice on e-cigarettes and vaping to the New Zealand general public.

There was common ground between the two parties around the need for regulation and education to the general public.

The meeting included Letitia O’Dwyer, Chief Executive of Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ), members of the scientific advisory board from ARFNZ and representatives from the Ministry of Health.

Letitia O’Dwyer, chief executive of ARFNZ, comments: “We are really pleased to be talking with the Ministry of Health in terms of looking to improve regulation and education to the public. There is still little robust research around e-cigarettes and vaping and what the long-term effects are. We are delighted to be making progress and have started this dialogue with the Ministry of Health who are committed to providing the safest advice to the public.”

“We want to get to a point where we can assist the Ministry of Health Tobacco Control group in disseminating a clear message to our health professionals in both primary and secondary care. We all acknowledge that there has been some mixed messages to date due to the lack of research in this area, but we are making good progress and are delighted to have started this dialogue,” adds Ms O’Dwyer.

For the latest information for health professionals check out the Ministry of Health’s website health.govt.nz

The Ministry of Health website states:

    The best thing smokers can do for their health is to quit smoking for good.
    E-cigarettes are intended for smokers only.