E-cigarettes in Canada

Canada: In a statement on National Non-Smoking Week, health minister Jean-Yves Duclos said quitting can be achieved by combining supports and tools, such as a quit coach or using approved nicotine replacement therapies such as gums, patches and lozenges, medication, or other less harmful sources of nicotine. He also said evidence suggests that while e-cigarettes are not harmless, vaping exposes smokers to lower levels of harmful chemicals than continuing to smoke.

Canada - Quebec: An Update on Québec’s Economic and Financial Situation, published by the provincial Ministry of Finance, reveals the ministry’s intention of introducing a tax on vapour products in order to discourage their use. No timeline is specified for the implementation of such a tax.

Canada: Health Canada has published its long-awaited first legislative review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA). It says youth access to vaping products raised concerns and that more restrictions may be imposed, work could be done to inform people better about the potential benefits and health hazards of vaping, a progressive enforcement approach to non-compliant products could be explored, and improving the quality and quantity of information on vaping would enhance the government’s ability to regulate vapour products effectively. The next review is due to begin in 2023.

Canada - Nova Scotia: The Finance and Treasury Board has told ECigIntelligence that the federal excise duty on vapour products, due to come into force on 1st October, will not replace the provincial Vaping Products Tax.

Canada - British Columbia: The Ministry of Finance has told ECigIntelligence that the federal excise duty on vapour products, due to come into force on 1st October, will not replace the provincial sales tax (PST) of 20% currently charged on vapour products in British Columbia.

Canada: Health Canada’s Tobacco Control Directorate has told ECigIntelligence there is no timetable for the adoption and implementation of the Order Amending Schedules 2 and 3 to the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (Flavours), restricting vaping flavours and banning sweeteners, proposed last year. An official said the information may be included in the next update to the department’s Forward Regulatory Plan.

Canada: The government has proposed changes to the Vaping Products Reporting Regulations, requiring manufacturers of vaping products with and without nicotine to provide Health Canada with information on ingredients and sales data. Retailers would not be required to report information unless they also manufacture vaping products. Reports on ingredients of products sold in Canada would be required a month after the first complete quarter of the year after the coming into force of the proposed regulation for each brand of vaping product or kit sold in Canada. Ingredients reports for new vaping products would have to be made on or before the day they are first sold in Canada.

Canada: An industry pilot project on recycling of cannabis vape products to tackle consumer waste has ended due to a lack of participation, media reports. The programme, which began in December 2020, aimed to equip over 200 stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario with countertop collection boxes, which would then be managed by Quantum Lifecycle Partners, specialists in recycling electronic goods.