NEW ZEALAND
Philip Morris International is facing two charges brought by the Ministry of Health over its Heets tobacco sticks. The charges were to be called in the Wellington District Court on June 2, 2017 but were adjourned at the last minute by agreement until September 7.
According to the ministry, Heets, which are tobacco sticks heated in PMI’s iQOS devices, fell into a category of tobacco products for oral use, other than smoking, and so were banned under the Smoke-Free Environments Act.
Jason Erickson, general manager for Philip Morris New Zealand, said the company complied with all sections of the Smoke-Free Environments Act: “We are currently making our iQOS device and Heets available to registered adult smokers on a website. If requested, we will provide a demonstration on how to use the iQOS device, which as the Ministry of Health has acknowledged, is a consumer electronics product.”
The two charges the company faces have a maximum penalty of $10,000.