New Zealand vape labels are a verification tool, not a shortcut to a legal or safety verdict. The Ministry of Health’s current packaging page sets out information that must appear for vaping substances, including ingredients, quantity, traceability details, nicotine information and safety instructions. Use the checklist below against the physical pack or a clear, current pack image. If a field is missing or unreadable, pause and ask for clarification instead of filling the gap from a marketplace title.
Vape labels NZ checklist
The Ministry of Health packaging and labelling requirements are the source for which fields apply and how they should be presented. The table translates that page into a buyer’s check; it is not a substitute for the full requirement.
| Check on the pack | What the Ministry page describes | If unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Names and quantities, in mg, of vaping-substance ingredients, including flavours; common ingredient names are preferred over a full chemical breakdown. | Request a readable label or current product information; do not infer an ingredient from a flavour name. |
| Volume or weight | Express liquid in mL and solid substance in mg, as appropriate. | Do not convert an undated or incomplete listing into a quantity. |
| Batch number | A manufacturing batch number enables traceability if a recall is needed. | Ask for a pack image that shows the batch field. |
| Notifier details | The manufacturer’s or importer’s name and contact details, including the company or person who notified the product in New Zealand, with address, phone and email. | Pause if there is no identifiable contact route. |
| Expiry date | An expiry date in one of the Ministry formats: M/YY, MM/YY, M/YYYY or MM/YYYY. | Do not treat a seller’s upload date as an expiry date. |
| PG:VG ratio | The ratio or percentage should match the product notification and the label. | Ask which product version the listing describes. |
| Alcohol over 3% | A substance containing more than 3% alcohol must include the words “contains alcohol”. | Ask for the current pack or insert rather than inferring the alcohol content. |
| Nicotine status | Nicotine concentration is expressed in mg/mL; non-nicotine products state “non-nicotine” or “zero nicotine”. | Do not turn a percentage or marketing phrase into mg/mL yourself. |
| Use instructions | Storage, refilling and disposal instructions may be on the label or in an insert or leaflet. | Request the current insert instead of guessing how to store or dispose of the product. |
Check the nicotine warning separately
For products containing nicotine, the Ministry requires a warning about nicotine’s harmful effects in both English and te reo Māori. The required English wording is This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.
alongside the specified Māori wording. The warning must be on both the front and back surfaces, centred on each surface and aligned parallel to the brand or variant name. The page also specifies black Helvetica type on a white background and a reserved warning area of at least 32% of the closed package surface. Cylindrical and elliptical packs have additional centring and area rules, so use the exact packaging page rather than judging a cropped listing image. A different or hidden warning needs clarification; this article does not decide the legal status of an individual pack.
Compare the physical package with the listing
- Write down the exact brand, product name and variant shown in the listing.
- Compare those identifiers with the pack, then check the fields in the table.
- Check whether the image is current and readable rather than a stock photograph.
- Keep a photo of an unclear field if you need to ask the seller, notifier or the Ministry about it.
- Do not complete a missing field from a different variant, review or product page.
The product name and variant are practical identity checks. They do not replace the Ministry’s list of mandatory information, and matching a label does not prove that the liquid is suitable for a particular device or individual.
What a label can and cannot prove
A label can give you evidence to compare: what the substance contains as declared, how much is supplied, which party notified it, how to store or handle it, and what nicotine warning is presented. It cannot, by itself, establish device compatibility, retailer authorisation for every supply route, stock status or individual suitability. Use the Ministry’s regulatory guidance for the wider retailer and notifier context.
Three outcomes from the checklist
- Information is present and matches: keep the pack details with the product record, then make separate device and handling checks.
- Information is missing or unreadable: pause and ask for a clear, current answer.
- Information conflicts: do not assume which version is correct; ask the seller or notifier before using the product.
References
- New Zealand Ministry of Health: Packaging and labelling requirements for vaping products (required fields and warning presentation; last updated 5 December 2025).
- New Zealand Ministry of Health: Regulatory guidelines for retailers of vaping and other notifiable products (wider compliance context).
Related reading
For product-care context, see the site’s battery safety guidance and vape liquid information.
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