World Vaping Day was May 30th, and to mark the occasion the Consumer Association of Canada (CAC) and Rothman’s Benson and Hedges (RBH)–one of the country’s leading tobacco companies–were doing their part to ensure smart and effective regulatory changes around vaping are implemented, with the latter recommending changes that could make Canada one of the first smoke-free countries in the world.
In a recent release, RBH made regulatory recommendations as part of the consultation on the first mandatory review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA)–180 Smoke submitted our own formal letter regarding our position on the TVPA and the proposed flavour ban at the end of April–which include:
- Stricter rules and enforcement of age verification for the delivery and sale of nicotine products, including tougher penalties on retailers to prevent sales to minors.
- Product regulation developed around the different risks and harms the products in question pose. For example, innovative and scientifically-substantiated smoke-free products should be regulated different ly than cigarettes because they have the potential to significantly reduce the level of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.
- Access to information: RBH feels increased/improved access to information for consumers would facilitate smarter, more informed purchasing decisions. In other words, more education around the risks of smoke-free alternatives, versus cigarettes themselves.
Similarly, the CAC issued a memo to Health Canada on the same day, referring to consumer poll data and asking the government body to listen to Canadian consumers when it comes to regulating vaping products.
“Health Canada held a consultation in 2019 seeking the public’s views on plans to restrict vaping product flavours, and over 24,000 consumers responded. Health Canada then issued a report on that consultation that admitted consumer responses were not counted when assessing support for the proposal. That is unacceptable, and the Canadian public agrees with us on that point,” stated Bruce Cran, CAC President, in today’s release.
Also according to the release, opinion research conducted by the CAC revealed a risk that even Health Canada identified: banning most flavoured vaping products may lead some vapers to stop using the products, which most likely means they would return to smoking, which is a far worse health outcome.
- The poll found that 77% of vapers who have reduced their cigarette consumption attributed the decrease to flavours.
- Of those who currently use flavoured vaping products, 29% said they would not vape or purchase nicotine vaping products if restricted to tobacco, mint and menthol flavours (as Health Canada proposes), and 45% would not vape or purchase nicotine vaping products if restricted to tobacco flavour only.
Further, the poll revealed Canadians do not think Health Canada’s proposed flavour restrictions would be as effective (compared to other policy proposals) in reducing youth vaping. Some (just over 30%) felt restrictions or a complete flavour ban would be an effective measure.
Over 50% felt punishing retailers who promote selling vaping products to youth would be effective, followed by national public awareness campaigns to educate and inform youth about the health risks of nicotine vaping (46%), and making it a punishable or legally-enforceable offence for youth under the legal age to possess vaping products (40%).
“There are clearly better policy options to address youth vaping than flavour restrictions that risk driving adult vapers back to smoking. It is unfortunate Health Canada has taken a prohibition approach that is inconsistent with other products used by youth,” stated Cran in the release.
The same poll also found that more Canadians feel our young people are more interested in flavoured alcohol and cannabis products than flavoured nicotine products and yet the flavour restrictions in question focus solely on nicotine vaping.
While we can’t always predict what the prevailing opinion was, is, or will be, listening to what consumers say and considering what they need and want with regard to their health and well-being should be paramount. Regulation isn’t always going to be popular, and you can’t please everyone, but listening to them, and letting consumers know that you’ve actually heard what they’ve said, is important.
To that end, 180 Smoke put out our own consumer survey not long ago and recently published the findings. Take a look and let us know what you think in the comments section or share your thoughts on social.
English 
French