CVA: E-Cig Laws Must Protect Youth Whilst Fulfilling THR Objectives

Source from:  Vapingpost 03/14/2021

In line with data from other Canadian provinces indicating that certain restrictions just led to increased smoking rates, the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is warning that the policy changes recommended by the QCTC would have the same dire effect.

“The QCTC has recommended the following regulatory changes:

Prohibit flavors (except tobacco) in vaping products (however, flavors may be permitted in certified versions and sold as cessation aids in pharmacies)

Limit the nicotine content to 20mg/mL of nicotine

Reduce financial access to these products among young people by introducing a tax on vaping liquids

Establish a system of tariffed permits for sale, distribution and import

Ban new tobacco outlets and vaping shops within 250 meters of a school

Frame the appearance of devices and fluids to make them less attractive to young people

Add warnings about health risks”

Some of the suggested restrictions would have unintended consequences

The CVA said that while some of the recommended restrictions make sense, some others will have the unintended consequence of both pushing ex-smokers back to smoking, as well as discouraging current smokers from switching from smoking to vaping, in order to quit or reduce harm.

The organization referred to data from Ontario and British Columbia, indicating that aside from high nicotine concentrations, one of the main drivers of teen vaping are unrestricted access to the products. On the other hand, adult smokers seeking to quit tend to initially benefit from consuming high nicotine products in order to prevent relapsing. In fact post TPD data from the EU had indicated that after the 20ml nicotine cap was set in place, less smokers were managing to quit via vaping.