VICTORIA - British Columbia has introduced amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to regulate e-cigarettes, legislation that will help stop the growing use of e-cigarettes by young people in B.C.

“More and more young people are using e-cigarettes,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “This legislation will limit the exposure to children of the possible dangers of e-cigarette vapour and the potential that e-cigarettes have to normalize smoking behaviour.”

The Tobacco Control Amendment Act amends the Tobacco Control Act to include requirements for retailers to ensure e-cigarettes are sold only to adults aged 19 and above, and to make it possible to create regulations to ensure that no retail displays are targeted to youth and no retail advertising for e-cigarettes is shown where youth can see it.

“The Canadian Paediatric Society welcomes the Government of British Columbia's regulation of e-cigarettes. This legislation will protect the health of children and youth from the well-established harmful effects of nicotine as well as the toxic by-products of 'vaping',” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, past president of the Canadian Pediatric Society and chief medical health officer for Island Health. “British Columbia's leadership on this issue will complement their current tobacco control efforts in providing clean air not only for children and youth but also all residents of the province."

As well, the amendments will ensure e-cigarettes are not sold in public buildings and their use is banned on public and private school grounds as well as in indoor public spaces and workplaces. These amendments also add prohibitions on tobacco and e-cigarette use on health authority properties; however health authorities will have the ability to set designated smoking areas if they wish. Health authorities continue to provide leadership in promoting the reduction of tobacco use.

The legislation will be introduced this spring, and the exact date it will be brought into force is currently to be determined. Businesses and organizations will need some time to prepare for this legislation and government anticipates announcing the date of implementation soon.

Together, these amendments under the new name ‘Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act’ serve to reinforce a commitment to protecting youth, building a smoke-free British Columbia and add to government’s extensive resources and supports to help British Columbians quit smoking.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. a leader in reducing tobacco use

B.C. has a strong, effective tobacco control policy and invests millions annually in programs that focus on tobacco use prevention, support for smoking cessation and protection from second-hand smoke and now, e-cigarette vapour. Great progress has been made in reducing tobacco prevalence in the province, and B.C. continues to have the lowest smoking rate in Canada, at approximately 16.2%.

Health benefits of quitting smoking

Quitting smoking greatly reduces serious health risks such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma for British Columbians and their families. Each year, more than 6,000 British Columbians die from the effects of tobacco use. Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease and death in British Columbia.

Supports to help people quit

Support provided by the province includes the Smoking Cessation program, which provides up to 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy products at no cost, or PharmaCare coverage of prescription drugs for British Columbians wanting to quit smoking. For more information, please call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1. Since the Smoking Cessation Program was launched on Sept. 30, 2011, close to 305,905 orders for nicotine replacement therapies have been placed.

The B.C. PharmaCare program is one of the most comprehensive public drug programs in the country; coverage is available to every British Columbian. PharmaCare bases its drug coverage decisions on rigorous and ongoing reviews of clinical evidence, to ensure it is covering the most beneficial drugs for patients.

Legislation on tobacco and e-cigarette vapour

The Ministry of Health’s Tobacco Control Strategy aims to reduce the death, disease and disability caused by tobacco by discouraging young people from starting to smoke; helping smokers to quit; and protecting people from exposure to second-hand smoke. B.C.’s five regional health authorities enforce the current Tobacco Control Act, which prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone under the age of 19, restricts retail tobacco displays and promotions and bans tobacco use at all schools.

Government wants to protect youth from the unknown effects of e-cigarette vapour and becoming addicted to nicotine, which is why the Tobacco Control Amendment Act will treat e-cigarette use exactly the same as tobacco, with the same prohibitions and restrictions. Adults will still be able to buy e-cigarettes.

Learn more:

Looking for more information on quitting smoking?
Please visit:  www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/stop-smoking/

Looking for support or information on how to plan quitting?
Check out:  www.quitnow.ca

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)