This Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) amends the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill. It supports New Zealand’s smokefree goals by proposing a schedule for implementation of the three main elements crucial to nicotine reduction—denicotinisation, retail reduction, and the smokefree generation—while also reducing collateral damage to small community retailers and the communities they serve from the less-known and less-tried proposals in this Bill.

This takes into account the heavy lifting that denicotinisation does, which is modelled to almost meet smokefree goals just by itself. At the same time, caution needs to be exercised before commencing the relatively untried initiatives of retail reduction and the creation of a smokefree generation.

This SOP remedies the grave concerns that small retailers and others have around the impact of the proposed retail reduction from 6,000 to 600 retailers, and the effect this could have on small businesses and the communities they serve. This remedy is achieved by commencing denicotinisation first, then requiring a 30-month transition and observation period before any potential retail reductions could occur. Small retailers have indicated that, if retail reduction is eventually required, they would need a minimum 2-year time frame to change their business model. This SOP provides for that transition.

This SOP requires a review 30 months after commencement of the Bill to assess what will be a minimum of 12 months of denicotinisation, and determine whether denicotinisation has been effective alone or whether retail reduction and the creation of a smokefree generation need to be considered. If these further activities are required, they can commence soon after the review is presented.

The end-to-end timing schedule starts with denicotinisation within 18 months of commencement. Discussions with manufacturers confirm this is achievable. A period of 12 months of observation and monitoring follows, with the next timestamp being a review starting 30 months after commencement of the Bill. The review will assess the success or otherwise of denicotinisation alone and determine whether retail reduction and the creation of a smokefree generation still need to be considered. The review will take up to 6 months and will be completed within 36 months of the Bill’s commencement. If retail reduction and the creation of a smokefree generation are required, they can apply soon after the review; if not, these provisions have a 12-month period before they apply, during which they can be repealed.