Canada puts forward new tobacco bill
A new bill introduced on Tuesday by the government of Canada would protect youth from nicotine addiction and tobacco use but, at the same time, allow adults to access vaping products as likely less harmful alternatives to tobacco use, according to a Health Canada press note.
The government said it was committed to protecting Canadians from nicotine addiction and tobacco use, and that regulating vaping products to make them less accessible to youth would help achieve this goal.
As part of this commitment, the government said, it was introducing the proposed Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, which would extend the existing Tobacco Act so as to regulate vaping products as a separate class of products
The new act would include provisions to protect youth from nicotine addiction and tobacco use; allow adults to access vaping products as likely less harmful alternatives to tobacco use; and protect the health and safety of Canadians through a variety of means.
‘The use of vaping products, such as e-cigarettes, has become increasingly popular over the past several years,’ the press note said. ‘Data from the recently released 2015 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey indicate that in 2015, 26 percent of Canadian youth aged 15-19 reported having ever tried an e-cigarette, up from 20 percent in 2013. The new federal regime would regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of vaping products and would include provisions such as restricting sales to youth, restricting certain flavours, like candy, that appeal to youth, and measures such as child-resistant packaging to help protect children from nicotine poisoning.
‘The proposed Tobacco and Vaping Products Act would also support the government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to implement plain packaging for tobacco products. Research has shown that plain packaging measures, including the removal of logos, textures, colours and brand images, help make tobacco products less attractive and therefore less appealing, particularly to youth. Furthermore, the proposed legislation would harmonize compliance and enforcement authorities for both tobacco and vaping products with other modern statutes administered by Health Canada.
‘The proposed legislation is part of the Vision for a Healthy Canada, as well as a key element of the government of Canada’s overall tobacco control strategy. In addition to its commitments relating to vaping and plain packaging, the government of Canada recently took action to ban the use of menthol flavouring in cigarettes, blunt wraps, and most cigars. Furthermore, as part of the government of Canada’s efforts to develop a new and innovative Federal Tobacco Control Strategy, Minister Philpott will host a national forum in early 2017, to discuss the future of tobacco control and hear from a wide range of stakeholders and Canadians, including First Nations and Inuit people.