New Zealand abandons lifetime smoking ban

New Zealand has announced that it will repeal the law passed by the country's Parliament in December 2022, which was scheduled to be implemented in 2024 and would have permanently prevented those born after 2008 from legally purchasing cigarettes.

According to a report by the News.com.au website, New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated that the smoking ban in question would be repealed to fund tax cuts.

In a statement on the Newshub Nation program, Willis noted that the ban would cost the government approximately 610 million dollars (1 billion New Zealand dollars), stating that the decision to repeal it was an important step toward funding tax cuts.

The law envisioned a lifetime ban on the legal sale of cigarettes to those born after 2008, a sales ban on 90 percent of existing cigarette retailers, and a reduction in the amount of nicotine in cigarettes.

In December 2022, New Zealand had passed a bill that included a provision ensuring that those aged 14 and under would never be able to legally purchase cigarettes.

Speaking to New Zealand radio, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that withdrawing the bill would prevent black-market cigarette sales and stop shops from being targeted by attacks.

EU-NEW ZEALAND TRADE AGREEMENT

European Union (EU) countries have approved the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that was negotiated between the Union and New Zealand.

The EU Council announced that at a meeting of member state trade ministers held in Brussels, they approved the completion of the trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand.

The statement noted that within the framework of the decision taken, the EU has completed the legal process required for the agreement to enter into force.

The statement expressed that the agreement would liberalize trade and investment and encourage closer economic relations, noting that this would create significant economic opportunities for companies and consumers on both sides.

News Source: AA