Province Introduces Vaping Regulations Further Restricting Youth Accessing Flavoured Products
Cherry flavoured colas may have been the in thing at soda shops a couple of generations ago but if today’s youth want the same flavouring experience in their vaping products they are about to be more out of luck with new vaping regulations introduced by the provincial government on Monday.
Under changes introduced into the Legislature The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Amendment Regulations, 2021 will specifically restrict the flavoured vape products to adult-only vape shops, and limiting marketing and availability to youth. The amendments will come into force September 1, 2021.
The updated regulations are designed to restrict the use of vaping products by those under the age of 18.
"Vapour flavoured products like strawberry and ice cream give young people the false impression that vaping is harmless when it is every bit as habit-forming as smoking," Minister of Health the Honourable Paul Merriman said in a statement. "Building upon the legislation this government introduced to regulate vape products as we do tobacco, we want to provide our youth with every opportunity to choose to be tobacco and vape-free."
The relationship between flavours and the start of vaping in those under the age of 18 has been documented in studies.
A 2018 report for Health Canada found the two top reasons why youth and young adults vaped was because their friends were vaping (44 percent) and they liked the flavour and smell of vape fluids (39 percent).
The proposed restriction will not apply to tobacco and mint/menthol flavours.
In February 2020 The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act (formerly The Tobacco Control Amendment Act, 2019) came into effect which started treating vaping products the same as tobacco products to help keep them out of the hands of youth.
The changes at the time did the following:
restricting the sale of vapour/e-cigarette devices and products to individuals 18 years of age and older;
prohibiting the display of vapour/e-cigarette products in a retail business where young persons have access;
restricting the use of vapour/e-cigarette products in and around public buildings, including schools and school grounds, in the same manner as our provincial tobacco legislation;
prohibiting the sale of vapour/e-cigarette products from specified facilities such as amusement parks, arcades, and theatres where youth frequent;
restricting advertising of vapour/e-cigarette products in the same manner as tobacco products by prohibiting advertising signs and promotional signs in areas where young persons can enter;
providing the ability to restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco and vapour products by regulation; and
expanding the authority of tobacco enforcement officers to include enforcement of vapour/e-cigarette product restrictions.