THURSDAY 2 September 2021– CANADA’s proposal to restrict flavours in e-cigarettes by amending its Tobacco and Vaping Products Act would lead to a significant net public health loss. That’s according to an international group of respected health professionals, public health specialists and academics with an interest in harm reduction.

The group submitted comments to the Health Canada consultation, ending September 2nd, 2021. The group cautioned the Canadian Federal Government’s draft Order would “negatively impact millions of adult smokers that have used flavoured vaping products to switch away from, or quit combustible tobacco.” While the group acknowledged that vaping products were a controversial topic, it asked Health Canada to reconsider the instrument choices proposed in its draft amendments, stressing it would be difficult to achieve this goal “without the significant contribution by vaping as a harm reduction and cessation product”.

The group appealed to Health Canada to “carefully weigh the evidence, before making any significant changes that may unintentionally prevent vaping products from helping to avert smoking-induced deaths and save Canadian lives”. Click HERE to read the full list of comments in the PDF document.