Canadian Anti-Smoking Groups Urge to Ban Flavored Vapes

Canada Flavored Vape Ban

Anti-smoking organizations press new Canadian Health Minister to finalize and strengthen ban on flavored e-cigarettes to combat youth vaping.

A coalition of prominent Canadian tobacco control organizations, including Action on Smoking and Health, the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, is intensifying its call for the federal government to ban flavored vaping products. With a new Parliament underway and Marjorie Michel newly appointed as Health Minister, these groups are urging immediate action to finalize and strengthen regulations first proposed in 2021.

The advocates are pushing for a prohibition on all e-cigarette flavors except for tobacco, a stricter stance than the 2021 proposal which would have permitted tobacco, mint, and menthol. They are calling for this to be implemented within Minister Michel’s first 100 days in office. “Let’s be clear, we’re not calling for a ban on all vaping products, but only for a ban on flavoured versions that make them interesting and highly appealing to youth,” stated Flory Doucas of the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control.

This renewed urgency comes amidst data showing high rates of vaping experimentation among Canadian youth. The Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (September 2023) revealed that nearly half of young adults aged 20-24 and one-third of 15- to 19-year-olds have tried vaping. Furthermore, almost 40% of those aged 15 and older who vaped in the past 30 days reported never having smoked cigarettes previously.

Les Hagen of Action on Smoking and Health criticized tobacco companies for “driving the youth vaping epidemic,” referencing a recent $32.5-billion settlement by Canada’s three largest tobacco firms for deceptive marketing. Cynthia Callard of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada urged the new government not to adopt a “laissez-faire approach” to the industry.

The federal government had previously committed to restricting flavors in 2021 but has faced delays. The office of the former minister of mental health and addictions, Ya’ara Saks, cited concerns about ensuring a national framework is effective, pointing to Quebec’s provincial flavor ban, which some argue led to an accessible illicit market.

Imperial Tobacco Canada’s Vice-President Eric Gagnon stated the company supports limiting flavors to tobacco, mint, and menthol and wants further restrictions on device size and the online market. However, he emphasized that any regulations must be evidence-based and accompanied by robust enforcement against the illegal market, a point he felt the health groups overlooked. The anti-smoking groups maintain that swift action on flavored vapes is crucial to protect young Canadians from nicotine addiction.

Matthew Ma
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