Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this country. While not without risks, vaping has a potential to help people quit smoking as a less harmful alternative. Other measures coming into effect today to protect New Zealanders from the risks of vaping include making it compulsory for a health warning to appear on the front and back of the product packaging in English and te reo Māori, and safety messaging must also be displayed. Manufacturers and importers can now start to notify the Ministry of Health of their intention to sell vaping and smokeless tobacco products. From February next year, they must have notified the ministry before these products can be sold in New Zealand, and these products must meet safety requirements before they can be notified. The new regulations will reduce harm and are risk proportionate, cost-effective, and workable for the people they affect. 