Recently the academic journal Tobacco Control published a new study on Finland’s experience with banning flavours in e-cigarettes. In this paper, Eeva Ollila of the Cancer Society of Finland analyzed the legal challenges and defiance to the law by manufacturers and retailers, and identified the need for greater controls at the EU and other levels. See you in…
Dr. Kessler, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was talking to the media this week about the problems with the JUUL vaping product. He predicted that JUUL and other similarly designed vaping products are unlikely to be approved by the FDA. (After May 2020, the FDA will be reviewing each e-cigarette design to decide…
Yesterday Alberta became the first province to say that it intends to put a tax on vaping products. The measure was announced in the province’s annual budget. What took so long? Why are other governments not taking action? By any number of criteria, health-oriented taxes and price controls are needed on vaping products, just as…
There are thousands of scientific studies on tobacco use published every month (37,000 so far this year!), but only a few find their way into the mainstream media. Among those, even fewer seem to have real influence on government policies. In my circles, one of the most influential papers this year was a British study…
Last February, 2,027 Canadian vapers sat down at a computer and answered a questionnaire prepared by Environics Research on behalf of Health Canada. Six months later, the report summarizing their answers has been available at the Library of Canada. (Link: POR 083-18 Vapers Panel Survey to Measure Attitudes and Behaviours Regarding Vaping Products). The results provide…
The power to speak Medical officers of health have special responsibilities and powers in the Canadian health system. Although they work for municipal, provincial and federal governments, many have the authority to speak out about health risks without having to get approval from elected officials. Federal law, for example, gives Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr….
The news on page 3 of this morning’s edition of the Globe and Mail was a report from Carly Weeks that Canada’s 3 big tobacco companies have set up a new lobby group to oppose vaping regulations. Surprise, Surprise. In fairness, the news was already 3 weeks old. The launch of the Vaping Industry Trade Association (VITA) was announced through…
Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Lung Association, Canadian Medical Association Heart & Stroke, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, Action on Smoking and Health (Alberta), Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco Protection delayed is protection denied: Health groups call for immediate federal action to protect young people from the risks of vaping products. Today…
Why so anodyne? Canadians need strong, effective and truthful warnings on vaping packages The federal government summer season of no-big-decisions usually runs from third week of June (St. Jean Baptiste Day) to the first week of September (Labour Day). Yet on the eve of this traditionally slow time, Health Canada handed public health groups with…
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) is calling on Health Canada to strengthen its enforcement of federal health law and to put a stop to youth-appealing product designs and misleading, lifestyle, and testimonial advertisements for vaping products. “Almost a year has passed since Parliament legalized the sale of nicotine vaping products,” explained Neil Collishaw, PSC’s…