Health Canada proposes to lower the nicotine in vaping products
OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 18, 2020 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada remains concerned by the rise in youth vaping and is acting to address it. After confirming its intentions to lower the nicotine concentration in vaping products, today the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced a public consultation on a proposal to better protect Canadians.
As part of efforts to reduce the appeal of vaping products, Health Canada is proposing to lower the nicotine concentration to a maximum of 20 mg/mL and prohibit the packaging and sale of a vaping product if the nicotine concentration displayed on the package exceeds this new limit. The current limit is 66mg/mL.
“Our work to protect Canadians from the harms of vaping products continues. These changes will help reduce the appeal of vaping products to youth,” said The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health.
The 75-day public consultation will be open for comment beginning tomorrow December 19, 2020 and will close on March 4, 2021. Feedback from all Canadians will be considered in the development of the final Regulations.
Heart & Stroke tips their hat to the government’s announcement to limit nicotine concentrations in vaping products in response to high youth vaping rates and the associated dangers to their health.
“Nicotine is highly addictive and damages developing brains,” says Dr. Andrew Pipe, board chair, Heart & Stroke. “Many products used by youth have high concentrations of nicotine – as much as an entire package of cigarettes. Limiting the amount of this incredibly harmful substance is an important step towards protecting youth.”
A recent Heart & Stroke funded study revealed that two-thirds of young people are using vapes with 50–60mg/mL of nicotine, the highest levels currently available on the market. Several provinces have already announced or implemented nicotine content limits.
The changes proposed today build on existing measures already taken by the Government of Canada to address the rise in youth vaping, including extensive public education campaigns and banning the advertising of vaping products in public spaces if the ads can be seen or heard by youth. Health Canada is also considering to further restrict flavours in vaping products, and require the vaping industry to provide information about their vaping products, including sales, ingredients, and research and development activities.
“The proposed regulations requiring a maximum nicotine concentration for vaping products of 20 mg/mL are essential to reduce youth vaping and deserve strong support,” said Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society.
Meanwhile, the Vaping Industry Trade Association (VITA) Canada’s largest trade association representing the industry’s manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, said lowering the nicotine levels would minimize their value to adult smokers seeking to transition to a reduced risk category.
“A limit of 20mg/mL is simply too low for many smokers,” said Allan Rewak, Executive Director of VITA of Canada. “Adult smokers need access to higher nicotine vapour products at the beginning of their journey from smoking to vaping. Lowering this limit is just going to keep more smokers smoking.”
Quick Facts
- Vaping nicotine can affect teen brain development and lead to addiction.
- Vaping has doubled among students when comparing the results of the 2018-19 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS) to the previous 2016-17 survey.
- Health Canada identified the introduction of high nicotine concentration vaping products to the Canadian market in 2018 as being a key factor that contributed to the rapid rise in youth vaping.
- The proposed Regulations would be made under the authorities of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and include an amendment under theCanada Consumer Product Safety Act.
- The proposed Regulations align with the 20 mg/mL limit in place in the European Union’s 27 Member States, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, and Saudi Arabia. This option also aligns with the maximum nicotine concentration set for vaping products sold at retail stores in the provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
- Health Canada has invested $13 million in national public education campaigns since December 2018. The Department continues to invest in the Consider the Consequences youth vaping prevention outreach activities designed to inform youth and their parents about the risks and harms of vaping, and has created funding opportunities to engage partners and stakeholders in a collaborative response.
