Fighting Contraband Not A Priority in Canada

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 01/05/2011

Imperial Tobacco Canada has expressed regret about the minister of health's decision to abandon her commitment to tackle the nation's contraband tobacco problem in favor of imposing new regulations on the legal tobacco industry. "This announcement is simply poor policy for political gain and has little to do with its stated health objectives," said John Clayton, vice president, corporate affairs. Imperial said in a press note posted on its website that, since 2006, illegal cigarettes had made up between 18 per cent and 33 per cent of the national market and nearly 50 per cent of the market in Ontario. "The RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] has reported there are now 50 illegal cigarette factories and over 300 smoke shacks selling tobacco on First Nations reserves in Canada," the note said. "After announcing in September that tackling illegal tobacco was her priority, special-interest anti-tobacco groups lobbied the minister heavily to focus on increasing the size of health warnings on legal products. Most of these groups are funded by her own department." "Three months ago, the minister of health said illegal tobacco was her priority," said Clayton. "However, she has done nothing to crack down on the illegal trade since then. "Instead, she caved into the pressure of a handful of anti-tobacco groups. "The illegal operators already ignore over 200 rules and regulations, including the existing labeling requirements. This will simply be another law that is ignored ‒ and yet another case of the government of Canada turning a blind eye to that illegal activity," he added. Imperial said it recognized the health risks associated with smoking and agreed that consumers should continue to be informed about those risks. "The Company also believes that the health risks have been known for decades and that the existing regulations provide sufficient information to consumers in order for them to make an informed decision," the press note said. "Today in Canada, tobacco regulation places a 50 per cent health warning on cigarette packs, prohibits display from public view and restricts most communication to consumers." "Increasing the size of health warnings will not provide greater awareness to consumers or decrease the number of smokers," said Clayton. "It is unfortunate that the health minister has decided to let a few anti-tobacco groups dictate the government's tobacco control strategy instead of using a common sense approach," he added. Enditem