Image Credit: Canadian Press

By Ashley Legassic

YOUTH VAPING

B.C. Government announces tighter restrictions on vaping

Nov 14, 2019 | 11:06 AM

VICTORIA — The provincial government has announced tighter restrictions on vaping to try to deter youth from consuming nicotine.

In a news release, the Ministries of Health, Finance and Education said this includes restricting vapour product access, flavours, nicotine content, and packaging and advertising.

The government also intends to increase taxes on vapour products.

“Some vaping manufacturers are using flavours and advertising to entice and normalize vaping for youth — introducing a new generation to very high levels of a very addictive drug,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “As a result, youth vaping rates are rising, putting them at risk for addiction and serious illness. That’s why we are bringing in the most comprehensive plan in the country, and supporting young people to end this dangerous trend.”

The new regulations will restrict the amount of nicotine in vapour pods and liquid to 20 milligrams per millilitre, and will require plain packaging for vapour products that include health warnings. Public advertising of vapour products will be restricted in areas like bus shelters or community parks.

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The sale of flavoured vapour products will only be sold in age-restricted shops.

The government said the restrictions will come into force next spring, following stakeholder engagement.

“I encourage the federal government to bring in national regulations that address vapour product wholesalers,” Dix said. “Until they do, there will be a black market of non-compliant vapour products from other jurisdictions that can make their way into our province, our schools and the lungs of our young people.”

These new regulations will be supported by a youth-led anti-vaping social media campaign to de-normalize vaping.

“When young people are the ones driving change, we know it gives their peers the energy and motivation to be part of the solution,” said Education Minister Rob Fleming. “That’s why we are supporting our youth with resources and information to help them take on an industry that has targeted them for glamourized addiction.”

The province has also partnered with the B.C. Lung Association to build a vaping-prevention toolkit that’s already been piloted in some schools. That project will be expanded to schools across the province immediately.

Legislation is expected to be introduced later this month to increase the provincial sales tax rate applied to vaping products from seven per cent to 20 per cent, which would make B.C. the first province in Canada to introduce a specific tax rate related to vaping products.

The new tax rate would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 and would be applied to all vaping devices, the substance or juice, and any vaping part or accessory.

The legislation would also include increasing the tobacco tax rate by two cents.

“Effective Jan. 1, 2020, the tax applied would be 29.5 cents per cigarette and 39.5 cents per gram of loose tobacco. Nicotine gum, patches and similar smoking cessation products would continue to be exempt from the PST,” the news release stated.