Tobacco giant behind new push to get Health Canada to regulate vaping products

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There is a new push to restrict the sale of vaping products in Canada, and it’s coming from one of the tobacco industry’s biggest players.

The recommendation to Health Canada is coming from Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., all in an effort to keep vaping products out of the hands of children.

“We support the government’s goal of curbing youth vaping to help the next generation set Canada on a path to be smoke-free,” Peter Luongo, managing director of RBH, says in a release.

The tobacco giant says the government should restrict the sale and flavours of vaping products in an effort to stop younger people from ever even starting to use nicotine.

Read more: Health Canada sets plain-packaging rules for tobacco, to take effect in November

This comes as Health Canada looks at potential regulations to restrict access and curb appeal to that demographic.

For it’s part, the company says vaping should be restricted to adults, and flavours that are particularly appealing to youth should also be banned.

It also believes all producers should be forced to come up with responsible marketing practices to prohibit vaping’s appeal.

“Ottawa can bring an end to cigarettes faster by stopping a new generation from getting hooked on nicotine and helping today’s generation of adult smokers who won’t quit to make a change,” Luongo adds.

Read more: B.C. Liberals call for changes to address youth vape use

RBH does note, however, that it would like to see smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes be regulated in a “balanced way”, adding some flavours are important in products like vaping nicotine or heating tobacco to help current adult smokers switch away from cigarettes.

Health Canada has already announced it is looking at bringing in more restrictions when it comes to vaping advertisements. They include where an ad can be placed as well as when one could run on television, all in an effort to reduce exposure to children, teenagers, and other non-smokers.

There are already restrictions in place for vaping products through the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, which include a ban on advertising that appeals to minors.

Health experts have, in the past, pushed the government to regulate e-cigarettes and other vaping products the same way cigarettes are.

-With files from Lasia Kretzel and Lauren Boothby

-Editor’s Note: The headline has been edited to clarify the push is to regulate vaping with restrictions