Province Bans Sales of Flavoured E-Cigarettes, Commits to Legislation

Government is concerned about the growing number of young people vaping in Nova Scotia.

That is why as of April 1, 2020, Nova Scotia will ban the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes and juices. Nova Scotia is one of the first provinces to announce measures to address vaping and the only province to announce a full flavour ban.

“We’ve worked hard to shift to a smoke-free culture and we do not want to lose ground. Vaping rates, especially among young people, have been growing and we’re concerned with what we’re seeing,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “Nova Scotia was the first jurisdiction in Canada to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco and amending this regulation to ban flavoured e-cigarettes and juices is another big step forward. I am proud Nova Scotia continues to have progressive tobacco control legislation.”

Nova Scotia has drastically reduced youth smoking rates over the last 30 years, but progress has stalled with the popularity of vaping, especially flavoured products.

In a recent survey conducted by Smoke Free Nova Scotia, 95 per cent of young people in Nova Scotia who vape said they prefer flavoured juices and over 48 per cent said they would quit if flavours were banned.

In a 2016-17 survey, 37 per cent of Nova Scotia students in grades 7 to 12 had tried vaping at least once, the highest rate in Canada. More than half of youth and young adults identify flavour and smell as the primary reason for trying vaping products.

The ban is the first step in addressing youth vaping. The province will roll out a public education campaign in the new year and introduce legislation in the upcoming session to further address vaping.

Quotes:

“The increased use of vaping, along with a lack of understanding about the potential health risks associated with vaping, is sending us in the wrong direction. Candy and other flavours are clearly being marketed to young people and research shows that flavoured e-cigarettes encourage young people to vape and can lead them to start using tobacco products. This is an important step to protect Nova Scotia’s youth.”

– Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health

“The Canadian Cancer Society commends the Government of Nova Scotia for announcing comprehensive restrictions on the sale of e-cigarette flavours and making the health of Nova Scotia’s youth a priority. E-cigarettes flavours are a major driver of youth vaping rates, making these regulations a significant first step to addressing the troubling increase in youth vaping in the province. We look forward to further legislation to avoid a new generation of young people becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping products.”

– Kelly Cull, regional director of public policy, Canadian Cancer Society

Quick Facts:

• between 2017-18, the number of young people smoking and vaping in Canada increased for the first time in several decades
• 38 per cent of Nova Scotia students thought there was no or only a slight risk associated with regular e-cigarette use
• in Nova Scotia e-cigarette products cannot be sold to people under 19, products must be kept out of view unless that’s the only product the store sells and minors are not permitted entry, no promotion at the register or point-of-sale and no signs or advertising outside the store
• a letter will be sent to all known retailers of vaping products to inform them of the change
• more than 2,200 cases of severe lung disease have been reported in the United States among people who vape, with 47 deaths. There have been eleven such cases of severe lung disease reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The causes of death have not yet been determined

Additional Resources:

For more information about the risks of vaping, visit: https://www.novascotia.ca/vaping