Meeting between Health Canada and the Harm Reduction Collective – October 30, 2024
Subject(s)
Impacts of the coordinated vaping excise framework, the illegal market, flavour restrictions, and disposable vaping products
Date
October 30, 2024
Participants
Health Canada (HC)
- Sonia Johnson (Chair), Director General, Tobacco Control Directorate (TCD)
- Sally Gibbs, Acting Director General, Consumer Products and Controlled Substances Directorate, Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB)
- Richard Loeppky, Acting Director, Tobacco & Vaping Compliance and Enforcement, Consumer Products and Controlled Substances Directorate, ROEB
- Acting Manager, Vaping Regulations, Tobacco Products Regulatory Office, TCD
- Policy Analyst. Regulatory and International Policy, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, TCD (Secretariat)
Harm Reduction Collective (HRC)
- Darryl Tempest, Chief Executive Officer
- Taryn LaVacca, Communications Manager
Introduction
A meeting was held at the request of HRC to discuss their concerns of the impacts of the coordinated vaping excise framework and its relation to the growing illegal market, flavour restrictions, and issues with disposable vaping products.
The Chair started the meeting with introductions.
Health Canada reminded participants that this meeting is subject to disclosure as per Health Canada’s Openness and Transparency policies. In the interest of transparency, the Department stated that it would be making a record of the meeting publicly available. The handling of information and privacy notice was mentioned and acknowledged. Health Canada also referred to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), its international obligation to protect tobacco control policies from the vested interests of the tobacco industry. It was acknowledged by HRC participants.
Subjects
Disposable Vaping Products
HRC has noted an increase in the availability of disposable vaping products. HRC noted that these products are often imported from manufacturers abroad. In addition, HRC mentioned, based on their observations, that individual disposable vaping components are also being exported to Canada, allowing for the assembly to take place domestically.
HRC expressed their concerns regarding the availability of non-compliant disposable vaping products, which in their view, are offered to consumers at lower prices as some retailers and vendors do not comply with the vaping excise tax requirements.
Illegal Market Overview
HRC raised concerns regarding enforcement activities for vaping products and the lack of compliance with the vaping excise framework. HRC also noted the emergence of new non-compliant products in the Canadian market that use “dust” (a general term for illegal substances that may be placed in vaping products). HRC also reported the availability of high nicotine products that exceed the allowed limits, and counterfeited excise stamps.
HRC raised concerns about the availability of illegal oil-based vaping flavours in the Canadian market, and the health risks these types of flavours pose to consumers.
Conclusion
The meeting was then concluded.
Documents
Agenda as provided by HRC