Ministry warns of vaping product over chemical linked to ‘popcorn lung'
It said Hoopers Vapour, which imports the product for sale in New Zealand, had proactively taken steps to remove the product from the market and had withdrawn its product notification.
'A consumer level recall is currently being undertaken by the notifier and the ministry is assisting with ensuring that these steps are being taken.
'The ministry is concerned that the product has entered the market and has issued a public warning about the Suntree Vanilla Cream vaping substance. As this is an evolving situation the ministry will not comment on the potential for enforcement action.'
The ministry said it had previously prompted notifiers to withdraw products on the basis that they did not meet nicotine labelling claims or had tested above the legal nicotine limit.
Twenty-four products prohibited for sale are listed on the ministry's website.
Vape Free Kids NZ is calling for increased testing after highlighting that only 3% of products are currently tested. Photo / 123rf
The ministry said last year it focused product testing on nicotine concentration and tested 250 products out of the approximately 7000 available for sale.
It said it considered this 'sufficiently robust to provide insight into product compliance'.
'Where non-compliant products are identified the ministry generally works with the notifier to ensure compliance. This may be through removing the product from the market or in some situations taking enforcement action.'
But advocacy group Vape Free Kids NZ has called for the frequency and scope of testing for vape products to be increased.
Co-founder Charyl Robinson said the regular checking and testing undertaken by the ministry only covered around 3% of the overall number of vapes and e-liquids for sale.
'It's entirely a game of chance to know if a dangerous product is being sold possibly to hundreds of people,' she said.
In the case of Suntree Salts – Vanilla Cream, she said that product had been on the market more than 18 months before it was picked up.
'The system relies on the tobacco and vaping industry to honestly declare their products are safe and provide their own testing data when they notify a product for sale.'
– RNZ
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