Action Needed Now On Illicit Tobacco

Retail NZ is calling for an immediate and rigorous crackdown on illicit tobacco, before it is too late.

Retail NZ has today released Time is Running Out to Quit Illicit Tobacco: A Case Study in Responding to Emerging Threats. It finds New Zealand has a fast-growing illicit tobacco market and that we currently have a narrow window in which to stamp it out.

"We hold grave concerns about the impacts the illicit tobacco market is already having on legitimate tobacco retailers, not to mention Aotearoa New Zealand's public health objectives and the fight against organised crime,” Retail NZ Chief Executive, Carolyn Young says.

The growth of the illicit market and related violence escalated quickly in Australia, and Retail NZ fears the same could happen here if action immediate action isn’t taken.

“We know there are illicit tobacco shops popping up in New Zealand, but the current legislative settings are not nearly enough, with Health, Customs and Police all responsible for different parts of enforcement and low-level penalties for wrongdoing,” Ms Young says.

“We are urging the Government to immediately establish a multi-agency Illicit Tobacco Task Force, increase penalties and have an independent roundtable consider a range of other measures, to ensure the illicit tobacco market is stamped out before it’s too late.”

“Just across the Tasman, Australia is in the midst of an illicit tobacco crisis. Its failure to take decisive action when it was clear an illegal market was taking hold of the tobacco market has resulted in organised crime groups leading a significant rise in violent retail crime” Ms Young says.

“While Australia has now begun taking strong actions to crack down on these networks, they’re shutting the gate after the horse has already bolted. We have the opportunity to act now.”

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