The B.C. ministries of Health and Education have announced a new plan to curb vaping among youth in the province.
The plan addresses the content, flavour, packaging, advertising, and sale of vapour products and e-cigarettes across British Columbia, and was announced by ministers Adrian Dix and Rob Fleming on Monday.
“We heard from young people across the province that vaping companies are targeting them with a product that poses real and serious health and addiction risks,” said Dix in a statement.
“That’s why we are bringing in regulations to keep vapour products away from developing lungs and to prevent nicotine addiction.”
These strict new rules include amendments to the Public Health Act which now restricts the amount of nicotine in vapour pods and liquid to 20mg/ml, and requires retailers to sell only those vapour products that are plainly packaged and have labels with health warnings.
Further, changes to the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation bans the sale of flavoured vapour products, which are attractive to youth, in shops that allow minors. These can now be sold at adult-only shops.
New retailers must comply with these regulations immediately, while established stores have until September 15, 2020 to make necessary changes and sell existing stock.
Advertising for vapour products is now banned in places where youth can access, hear or see them, such as bus shelters or community parks.
The province is also set to launch a youth-led social media campaign in September to denormalize vaping.
The provincial vaping action plan was first announced in November 2019, after which several measures to restrict youth access to vaping products have already been introduced.
In January 2020, the provincial sales tax for such products was increased from 7 per cent to 20 per cent. That legislation also included increasing the tobacco tax rate by two cents, raising costs to 29.5 cents per cigarette and 39.5 cents per gram of loose tobacco.
The original launch for the restrictions announced on Monday was scheduled to happen in May 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19.
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