The following update has been received from the Tobacco Regulatory Authority:

Kia ora koutou,

There are new notification requirements for distributors of smoked tobacco products. By 1 October 2023, distributors of smoked tobacco products must have notified the Director-General of Health that they are selling notifiable products at wholesale.

However, we acknowledge that there is a short timeframe between the regulation coming into force on 21 September 2023 and the notification cut-off date of 1 October 2023. We have committed additional staff to processing the large number of registrations, but processing could take up to 5-10 days.

Given the situation, we will not take action against anyone who sells regulated products where the retailer has started the required registration and notification process.

More information is available on the Ministry’s website.  

Ngā mihi nui, 
Tobacco Regulatory Authority