Press
Release
CANADIAN COALITION FOR
ACTION ON TOBACCO
Canadian Cancer Society●Canadian Council
for Tobacco Control● Canadian Dental Association● Heart
and Stroke Foundation of Canada●Non-Smokers' Rights
Association●Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
Health
Groups Welcome Measures to Protect Children from Tobacco
Marketing
(Ottawa
- September 17, 2008)
Member agencies of the Canadian Coalition for Action on
Tobacco welcomed today’s announcement that the marketing
of flavoured cigarillos would be addressed through new
tobacco regulations and legislation.
“Tobacco companies have used loopholes, candy flavours
and fancy packaging to lure children into nicotine
addiction,” said Canadian Medical Association
President, Dr. Robert Ouellet. “The proposals for
new tighter regulation and legislation announced today
by the Prime Minister will close many of the loopholes
that have given tobacco companies access to our youth."
Canadian tobacco laws have historically imposed
different rules on cigars than on cigarettes, and have
allowed little cigars to be exempt from minimum package
size and to have less stringent health warning messages.
Over the past few years, tobacco companies have
exploited this distinction and have introduced
single-sale cigarette-sized cigars with child friendly
flavours.
“These products are affordable for children, attractive
to children – and very harmful for children,” said
Cynthia Callard, Executive Director of Physicians for a
Smoke-Free Canada. “Measures like those announced today
are urgently required.”
Today’s announcement of new restrictions on tobacco
marketing was warmly received by the health agencies.
“This is a significant step towards the comprehensive
ban on tobacco products recommended by the World Health
Organization, and a necessary response to the renewed
advertising of tobacco companies,” said Melodie Tilson,
policy director of the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association.
“We
call on all Canadian politicians to support these
measures being put rapidly into law,” said Dr. Ouellet.
The
Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco is national
coalition of health organizations. Members supporting
this initiative include Action on Smoking and Health,
the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Council for
Tobacco Control, the Canadian Dental Association, the
Canadian Lung Association, Canadian
Medical Association, the Coalition québécoise pour le
contrôle du tabac, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of
Canada, the Non-Smokers' Rights Association, the Ontario
Campaign for Action on Tobacco and Physicians for a
Smoke-Free Canada.
For
information:
Lucie
Boileau, Canadian Medical Association 800 663-7336 or
613 731-8610 ext. 1266
Cynthia Callard, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada 613
233 488
Melodie Tilson, Non-Smokers Rights Association 613 230
4211 x 3
Rob Cunningham, Canadian Cancer
Society, 613-565-2522, ext. 305
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