National ban on vaping flavours coming ‘soon,’ says addictions minister

The minister of psychological well being and addictions says the federal authorities will ban most vape flavours throughout Canada quickly — greater than three years after Ottawa first promised to herald the rules.

“Now we have made a dedication from the begin to limit flavours. We’ve not wavered from that,” Ya’ara Saks informed CBC Information final week.

“We may have this in place quickly. I do not anticipate that is going to take for much longer.” She didn’t specify a timeline.

Saks’ promise comes after a coalition of anti-tobacco well being teams held a press convention in Ottawa earlier this month to name on Saks to introduce the ban swiftly or resign.

They accused her of bowing to vaping trade strain by failing to finalize the rules this spring, because the federal authorities had deliberate.

Again in June 2021, citing a “speedy improve in youth vaping in Canada,” Well being Canada vowed to limit vaping flavours to mint, menthol and tobacco.

“The provision of a wide range of fascinating flavours is believed to have contributed to the rise in youth vaping,” Well being Canada stated on the time, pointing to analysis that reveals younger individuals are extra more likely to begin vaping with fruity and candy flavours.

Three years after that warning, Canada now has one of many highest teen vaping charges on the planet; Statistics Canada studies almost half of all younger adults have tried vaping. Most new vape customers — 86 per cent — have been by no means cigarette people who smoke, in keeping with the latest Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey.

“We all know that younger individuals are being uncovered to vaping first now,” Saks stated.

Whereas Ottawa has spent the final three years consulting on rules, six provinces and territories have introduced in their very own flavour bans: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec.

Saks stated the delay in nationwide rules is because of the truth that Well being Canada needs to be taught from Quebec’s expertise. That province banned flavours a 12 months in the past.

“We have … seen in jurisdictions like Quebec, the place banning of flavours has led to a bootleg market that’s accessible,” she stated. “In order we transfer ahead with this, we wish to be sure that we get it proper.”

The federal authorities needs to ensure the rules shall be enforceable and will not inadvertently encourage underground flavoured vape gross sales, she stated.

“Simply to be clear, there isn’t a slow-walking of this,” Saks stated. “It is a matter of what are the teachings that we will be taught proper now?”

WATCH | Anti-tobacco teams name on minister to ban flavoured vapes or resign:

Anti-tobacco teams inform addictions minister to ban flavoured vapes or resign

Nationwide anti-tobacco and well being teams are calling on the minister of psychological well being and addictions to resign after failing to control vaping flavours that enchantment to children, after three years of guarantees to take action.

However Flory Doucas, co-director of Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Management, stated the rising illicit market in Quebec is the very cause why there must be a nationwide flavour ban now.

Proper now, clients in Quebec can simply order flavoured vaping merchandise permitted by Well being Canada from a retailer working out of a province that does not have a ban.

“The argument … of delaying the regulation as a result of there are points in provinces is fairly wealthy, as a result of the federal framework has made it very simple for trade to skirt these provincial rules,” Doucas stated.

Doucas stated the nicotine and vaping trade strikes rapidly to search out loopholes in new restrictions, however that should not be a cause for the federal authorities to attend this lengthy.

“We have been coping with an trade that has been profitable in delaying and delaying these rules,” Doucas stated.

The vaping trade held its personal press convention in Ottawa final week to name on Saks to not ban flavours.

Grownup people who smoke depend on vaping as a less-harmful choice to cigarettes and interesting flavours make switching simpler for them, stated Sam Tam, president of the Canadian Vaping Affiliation.

“A blanket flavour ban will do completely nothing to guard Canadians, particularly our youth,” he stated.

Saks has been comparatively silent thus far on Ottawa’s plans to herald a flavour ban. Well being Minister Mark Holland, in the meantime, has been an outspoken critic of nicotine pouches and banned the sale of pouches with fruity flavours inside a 12 months of them hitting cabinets.

Saks stated the truth that vaping has been round for for much longer makes regulating it tougher.

“The [nicotine pouch] market is a more moderen market that Minister Holland was capable of nip at earlier than it had proliferated,” Saks stated. “Vaping merchandise have been round for fairly a very long time. And we have additionally seen shifts and adjustments within the market.

 “I’m seized with this. We do wish to get this out as rapidly as doable.”

WATCH | Vaping is tougher to control than nicotine pouches, minister says:

Vaping is tougher to control than new nicotine merchandise, minister says

Minister of Psychological Well being and Addictions Ya’ara Saks speaks to CBC Information’ Marina von Stackelberg about why the federal authorities remains to be attempting to ban vaping flavours greater than three years after it promised to take action — however managed to ban nicotine pouch flavours in lower than a 12 months.