Duty-free change helps stop undercutting of smokefree policy

8 May 2014

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

ASH says duty-free change helps stop undercutting of smokefree policy

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) says Government changes in the duty-free allowance from 200 to 50 cigarettes will stop tobacco tax increases being eroded by tax free tobacco.

The move aligns New Zealand with Australian duty-free limits, which were changed in September 2012.

“Duty-free tobacco is the number one source of non-duty paid tobacco in New Zealand. Selling tax free tobacco for travel continues to be an anomaly as tobacco tax increases, and we head towards the goal of smokefree 2025,” said ASH director Stephanie Erick.

“There will be health benefits for our Pacific neighbours too, as we know many visitors to the islands request that giant blocks of tobacco are brought with them.

“ASH pushed for the complete removal of the tobacco allowance, but accept that this change is better than the previous situation,” said Ms Erick.

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