Regulation of Tobacco, Alcohol and Unhealthy Food in New Zealand and Co-Ordinating the Trans-Tasman Relationship

Abstract

This chapter uses examples from the regulation of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods to discuss regulatory co-ordination issues and the trading relationship between New Zealand and Australia. The approach to regulation in New Zealand reveals that in some instances regulatory policy is triggered by offshore (including Australian) regulatory developments. Although the trigger for regulation may come from offshore, the driver of that regulation can easily become local health and social concerns. The chapter concludes with a discussion about the incentives and sometimes problems of adopting regulations designed for other countries. Greater and earlier coordination in regulation could have a better outcome for both sides of the Tasman going forward, particularly in relation to the relatively uncharted area of regulation of unhealthy foods.

Keywords: trans-Tasman relationship, regulating tobacco, regulating alcohol, regulating unhealthy food