In Canada, a group of provincial anti-tobacco coalitions and associations representing physicians and the public health community are calling on the federal government to amend Bill S-5 in a full-page advertisement in the Hill Times.
A STRICT FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF VAPOTAGE PRODUCTS
In addition to enhancing the regulatory power of the federal Tobacco Act to control the size of packaging and tobacco products, Bill S-5 will convert the illegal market for vaping products (with nicotine) into one. legal and regulated industry. "We support the legalization and regulation of vaping products such as electronic cigarettes, since this will ensure that smokers have access to a much less dangerous alternative source of nicotine," »Immediately commented Flory Doucas, spokesperson for the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, ruling that all the national and provincial health partners fully support Bill S-5.
However, “The bill contains a considerable loophole: its provisions on the promotion of vaping products are too permissive. While targeted advertising is perfectly justified in order to reach smokers, the bill fails to protect young people from exposure to advertisements featuring a product that may cause one of the consequences. most powerful dependencies there is, " adds Ian Culbert, Executive Director of the Canadian Public Health Association.
Indeed, the bill allows for advertising without any restrictions on the vehicle or the venue, in addition to allowing “lifestyle” type promotion to non-smoking adults, by presenting vaping with nicotine as a desirable gesture in itself - and not as a substitute for those who smoke. (To see images of advertisements that would be permitted, see this information sheet.)
This is why the following groups invite parliamentarians to consider an amendment to better circumscribe the promotion of electronic cigarettes and other vaping products, while promoting the adoption of the bill by the suspension of work. for the summer vacation:
- Canadian Public Health Association
- Canadian Medical Association
- Doctors for a Canada smokeless
- Action on Smoking & Health (Alberta)
- Alliance for Tobacco Reduction Manitoba
- Alliance for Tobacco Control Newfoundland and LabradorLabrador
- Ontario Campaign for Action Against Tobacco
- Clean Air Coalition of British Columbia
- Coalition for Tobacco Reduction Saskatchewan
- Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control
- Smoke-Free Nova Scotia
The proposed amendment would only allow informative or preferential advertising to adults (ie in places inaccessible to minors and in direct communications to adults). In this way, young people will not be exposed in any way to the promotion of electronic cigarettes, and non-smoking adults will only be exposed to informative or preferential advertising and not of the “lifestyle” type.
“Bill S-5 raises critical public interest issues, including the ability of for-profit companies to sell and promote nicotine - one of the most potent addictive substances known to exist. Nicotine addiction is the source of a tobacco epidemic that kills 37 Canadians annually. Canadians therefore have a right to demand improvements that will minimize the risks of nicotine addiction for themselves and their families. We hope that parliamentarians will choose to protect the public by amending Bill S-000, while ensuring its passage before the recess for the summer recess, ” concludes The Hagen, Managing Director of Action on Smoking and Health.
To view the press release in PDF, with additional information, click here:
http://www.cqct.qc.ca/Communiques_docs/2017/PRSS_17_05_31_Amendement_S5_FRA.pdf
About us : Some 470 Quebec organizations - medical associations, professional orders, municipalities, hospitals, schools, school boards, etc., have endorsed the measures intended to reduce smoking and its consequences called for by the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control. Founded in 1996, the main goals of the Coalition include preventing initiation into smoking, promoting quitting, protecting non-smokers from second-hand smoke, and achieving a legislative framework that reflects the harmful and addictive nature of tobacco. The CQCT is an initiative of the Association pour la santé publique du Québec.
