Analysis of vaping substances for label accuracy, nicotine, and alcohol content in parallel with changes in the associated regulatory framework in New Zealand (2020-2023).

Abstract

Vaping use has increased among young people and individuals who have never smoked, prompting concern about product contents and long-term health impacts. In New Zealand, the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) introduced staged regulatory changes between 2020 and 2023 regarding the retail, manufacturing, importing, and distribution of vape substances. This research aimed to determine whether these regulatory changes improved label accuracy, nicotine and ethanol content compliance in vaping substances available online in New Zealand. More than 300 vaping products were purchased from online New Zealand retailers across three timepoints: December 2020 (Set 1, n=109), December 2021 (Set 2, n=106), and October 2022 (Set 3, n=95). Products underwent systematic label review and chemical analysis. Ethanol content was measured using HSGCFID, while nicotine was analysed via HPLC (Set 1) and GCFID (Sets 2-3). Label compliance improved over time, with expiry date and batch number accuracy reaching 86% and 85%, respectively in Set 3. However, no products across all sets listed ethanol as an ingredient despite ethanol detected in all samples, ranging from trace levels to 23.2% v/v. Nicotine accuracy also improved, with products within ±10% of the label increasing from 42% (Set 1) to 59% (Set 3), although discrepancies remained. Early sets with vape products labelled as "zero nicotine" had detectable nicotine levels, an issue absent in Set 3. Regulatory implementation led to partial improvements in product labelling and nicotine compliance, but noncompliance still persisted, particularly with ethanol disclosure. Vaping use has increased among young people and individuals who have never smoked, prompting concern about product contents and long-term health impacts. In New Zealand, the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) introduced staged regulatory changes between 2020 and 2023 regarding the retail, manufacturing, importing, and distribution of vape substances. This research aimed to determine whether these regulatory changes improved label accuracy, nicotine and ethanol content compliance in vaping substances available online in New Zealand. More than 300 vaping products were purchased from online New Zealand retailers across three timepoints: December 2020 (Set 1, n=109), December 2021 (Set 2, n=106), and October 2022 (Set 3, n=95). Products underwent systematic label review and chemical analysis. Ethanol content was measured using HSGCFID, while nicotine was analysed via HPLC (Set 1) and GCFID (Sets 2-3). Label compliance improved over time, with expiry date and batch number accuracy reaching 86% and 85%, respectively in Set 3. However, no products across all sets listed ethanol as an ingredient despite ethanol detected in all samples, ranging from trace levels to 23.2% v/v. Nicotine accuracy also improved, with products within ±10% of the label increasing from 42% (Set 1) to 59% (Set 3), although discrepancies remained. Early sets with vape products labelled as "zero nicotine" had detectable nicotine levels, an issue absent in Set 3. Regulatory implementation led to partial improvements in product labelling and nicotine compliance, but noncompliance still persisted, particularly with ethanol disclosure.