New Zealand's New Regulations For Disposable E-cigarettes Are About To Be Implemented, With 10 Million Devices Likely To Be Scrapped

According to the New Zealand online magazine Thespinoff, the new regulations for disposable e-cigarettes in New Zealand are about to be implemented, and e-cigarette retailers are preparing for a new round of crackdowns on disposable products. One outlet has stated that it may need to send 300000 devices to landfills.
More than 600 specialized e-cigarette stores nationwide may dispose of up to 10 million devices. However, environmental and health advocates say that New Zealand's hard work to get these products off the shelves will be worth it.
Morris Lazootin, the operator of The Vape Shop, described the upcoming regulations as a "real challenge". It was revealed that the retailer may face difficulties in handling over 300000 previously compliant e-cigarette devices, with a total inventory amount of $7 million.
The new regulations will prohibit disposable or single use devices unless they comply with the new regulations. At the same time, new electronic cigarette devices must have detachable batteries, child safety facilities, and reduce nicotine levels. This means that a large number of e-cigarette devices are being sold as quickly as possible before the ban takes effect, raising concerns among consumers about hoarding products.
Jonathan Devery, Chairman of the New Zealand Electronic Cigarette Industry Association, also warned that there may be e-cigarette products that cannot be sold before December 21st, and the new nicotine pack content limit is not limited to e-cigarettes.
The chairman of the anti smoking organization AsH also stated that this may lead people back to the embrace of cigarettes.
Popular merchants have been sending emails to customers in recent weeks offering promotions such as "buy one get one free", half price products, and free disposable e-cigarettes for specific amounts of consumption.
The comprehensive ban by the New Zealand government has been pushed to the edge in formal business and may fuel the black market. In Australia, e-cigarettes require prescriptions to be purchased, and the market is also concerned that the demand for smoking alternatives, which have already been taken down, will be pushed underground.
What is the way out for unsold inventory after the 21st?
One possible option is to ship prohibited products for sale abroad. Electronic cigarette dealer Vapor has an existing sales channel to Australia, but not all manufacturers can do so.
Lazootin from The Vape Shop stated that he faces "significant obstacles" as many inventory products are produced to meet "very specific" regulatory standards implemented in 2021, and "this unique compliance makes them unsuitable for sale in other international markets.".
If electronic cigarettes are not properly processed after the ban takes effect, it will be a problem.
The new government has indicated plans to further reduce the use of e-cigarettes in New Zealand, ultimately reducing waste. In May of this year, before the current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took office, he proposed that New Zealand may follow Australia's approach and completely ban recreational e-cigarettes.
Anyway, after December 21st, how to deal with electronic cigarette products that merchants are expected to be unable to sell is an important issue of concern in the industry.