Casey Costello will release 'independent advice' about benefits of heated tobacco products | RNZ

New Zealand First Minister Casey Costello will release the independent advice she received about what she says are the merits of heated tobacco products being used to help people quit smoking.
In a sitdown interview with RNZ, Costello said she had never claimed heated tobacco products (HTPs) were safe, just that they were less harmful than smoking.
"Health confirmed that it's less harmful than smoking. So what we're talking about is harm reduction products to send people on a pathway to quit smoking.
"What we knew was that heated tobacco as an alternative to smoking was less harmful than smoking, considerably less harmful. But we definitely weren't saying it was safe, or suggesting take that up instead of smoking," Costello said.
On Monday RNZ revealed officials had told Costello that Philip Morris would be the biggest winner from tax cuts for HTPs, which they said were toxic and more harmful than vaping.
Despite a long list of problems Treasury identified with the proposal, Costello claimed she had got her own "independent" advice to the contrary and went ahead with a 50 percent excise tax cut for HTPs, at a cost of up to $216 million.
Reporter: Jo Moir
Video: Samuel Rillstone