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When it comes to vaping regulation, Addictions Minister Saks continues to ignore advice from her Medical Officer of Health

Yesterday Canada’s Chief Medical Officers repeated their call for strengthened regulation of vaping products. The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health includes the senior health officer of each Canadian jurisdiction outside of Quebec. This includes Dr. Theresa Tam, who is the federal government’s lead public health professional. Their message to federal, provincial and municipal governments is…

BAT shoehorns its nicotine pouches onto the Canadian market
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BAT shoehorns its nicotine pouches onto the Canadian market

On Tuesday this week, Health Canada made public its decision to issue a natural health food license to a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. As a result, British American Tobacco has become the first manufacturer to be authorized to market nicotine pouches in Canada. This federal license, issued on July 18, 2023, allows BAT/Nicoventures authority to…

BAT doubles down on disposable vapes in Canada (while regulators in other countries push back).
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BAT doubles down on disposable vapes in Canada (while regulators in other countries push back).

This post provides an update on disposable electronic nicotine devices in Canada, identifies some important information gaps in Canada and notes key developments with respect to these single-use plastic products in other countries. Canada’s largest tobacco companies are intensifying their sales of disposable e-cigs.   Last month, the Canadian subsidiary of British American Tobacco (Imperial…

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Six take-aways from Canada’s student smoking survey

This month Health Canada released the results of the most recent Canadian Student, Alcohol and Tobacco Survey, with data collected in selected schools across Canada (except New Brunswick) during the 2021-2022 school year. This is the most recent version of the school-based smoking and drug survey which has been conducted periodically since 1994. In recent…

The continuing divide on E-cigarettes for smoking cessation: Part 1 – research findings
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The continuing divide on E-cigarettes for smoking cessation: Part 1 – research findings

One of the few agreements about e-cigarettes is that there is still no consensus about the role they play in helping smokers quit. This post reports on the conflicting (and missing) evidence on the effects of using e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. A subsequent post will look at the conflicting (and missing) approaches to promoting e-cigarettes…

Health Canada’s vaping flavour ban is still missing in action.
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Health Canada’s vaping flavour ban is still missing in action.

It’s time to admit it is dead. In June 2021 Health Canada stated its intention to reduce youth vaping by removing flavourings from vaping liquids, and published draft regulations to that effect. Predictably, the release of the draft regulations was followed with noisy and prolonged protests and intensive lobbying by those in the business of selling these…

The updated Cochrane review of e-cigarettes — and what it should mean for Canada
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The updated Cochrane review of e-cigarettes — and what it should mean for Canada

Last week, the UK based health charity, Cochrane, released its sixth report on the evidence on the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. This post reflects on how this and other Cochrane conclusions could serve Canadian efforts to reduce smoking at the population and individual levels. In brief: 1) Cochrane establishes that in clinical trials, E-cigarettes fail…

Doctors seek Federal Court Order to Force Health Canada to Comply with Tobacco Law
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Doctors seek Federal Court Order to Force Health Canada to Comply with Tobacco Law

Mandatory Report More Than Five Months Overdue (Ottawa – November 14, 2022) Today a national health charity applied for a Federal Court order directing Health Canada to complete its overdue review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and to present the results to Parliament. “The law is crystal clear” said Dr. Atul Kapur, president…

BAT’s disposable “VUSE GO” arrives in Canada.
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BAT’s disposable “VUSE GO” arrives in Canada.

Last week BAT/Imperial Tobacco Canada  began selling the disposable vaping device Vuse Go in Canada. From the advertising copy on its website, it appears that this new product is being used to recruit new users:  “Whether you are new to vaping, want to try some new flavours without committing, or simply aren’t sure which device is right…

VEEBA: In a surprise move, PMI launches disposable vapes in Canada
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VEEBA: In a surprise move, PMI launches disposable vapes in Canada

This week Canadian consumers and health regulators are facing a significant development in the vaping market, as the world’s largest tobacco company introduces VEEBA – an affordable and fancy disposable vape. Philip Morris is the last of the big tobacco companies to launching vaping products. It’s decision to put its deep pockets and extensive marketing…