Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Duve has announced his intentions for a table regulation that will ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products (other than tobacco flavors) in the coming weeks.
The Wednesday Gazette at the Quebec Government Officethe proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act would include “components and accessories thereof, including tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, or other such devices that contain any flavor or aroma other than the flavor or aroma of tobacco.”
In addition, Quebec intends to ban e-cigarette manufacturers from selling products that do not comply with nicotine concentrations (20 milligrams per milliliter) and product specifications.
The law also includes restrictions on the sale of toys, food, animal or character-shaped products that appeal to minors.
Additionally, the new regulations limit the volume of tanks and capsules to 2 milliliters, and the maximum volume of refillable containers for vape liquids to 30 milliliters.
Isabelle Charest, Minister for Duvet and Sport, Recreation and the Outdoors, said the draft regulation is the result of a special intervention group on e-cigarettes, including the Quebec Institute for Public Health (INSPQ), which represents various government departments and agencies. follow recommendations), clinician, public health director.
According to the government, the number of high school students who reported smoking an e-cigarette in the last 30 days more than quintupled between 2013 and 2019, from 4% to 21%.
The bill is expected to be submitted within 90 days.
“This draft regulation is expected to have an economic impact on businesses that generate revenue from the sale of these products, particularly stores specializing in vaping products, in terms of lower turnover and job losses. “However, businesses that offer a variety of other products, such as convenience stores and gas stations, are expected to be less affected.”
A specialty e-cigarette store recently sparked the outrage of the Anti-Tobacco Coalition when it began selling candies and other treats so that minors could enter the store.
Quebec law prohibits minors from entering e-cigarette shops. Convenience stores are regulated by putting sweets in, and children under the age of 18 can also enter the store.
The coalition argued that the candy flavors found in vape products are appealing to young people.
In Canada, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories have already banned all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors. In British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, flavored e-liquids are limited to specialty e-cigarette stores.
Dube said it plans to ban flavors and limit nicotine levels in all e-cigarette products in 2020.
‘Great News’: Heart and Stroke
The Heart & Stroke Foundation called the new regulation “great news” and said it had long advocated for a flavor ban in response to high rates of e-cigarette use among young people.
“More than a quarter of young people started smoking because they became addicted to nicotine after they started using e-cigarettes,” says Kevin Bilodeau, director of government relations in Quebec at Heart & Stroke. . They say it’s an important reason they started smoking e-cigarettes, and an important reason that the same number of people continue to use e-cigarettes. ”
In a statement, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH) defended its flavored e-cigarette products, saying the company was “clearly young people should never use nicotine-containing products,” and that they are of legal age. of smokers will be given another option to encourage them to smoke. I chose the non-smoking option.
“It is clear that young people should never use products containing nicotine, including e-cigarette products. Our smoke-free products are intended only for current adult smokers,” it said. .
Imperial Tobacco Canada said it was “disappointed by this decision” and believes the proposed restrictions on flavors in vaping products are “misguided.”
Using files from Canadian Press.
