Meeting between Health Canada and the Canadian Vaping Association – June 25, 2025

Subject(s)

The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) requested a meeting to provide Health Canada with an update on the vaping industry, their research on the illegal market, and the organization's activities and initiatives.

Date

June 25, 2025

Participants

Health Canada (HC)

• Sonia Corrent (Chair), Director General, Tobacco Control Directorate (TCD), Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch (CSCB)
• Cecilia Van Egmond, Director, Office of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (OCRA), TCD, CSCB
• Ericka Tulloch, Director, Tobacco and Vaping and Controlled Substances Division (TVCSD), Cannabis, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Directorate (CTCSD), Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB)
• Manager, Compliance Division, OCRA, TCD, CSCB
• Senior Manager, Promotion and Internet Inspections Unit, TVCSD, CTCSD, ROEB
• Senior Manager, Tobacco and Vaping Compliance Enforcement Program (Ontario Region), TVCSD, CTCSD, ROEB
• Senior Manager, Tobacco and Vaping Compliance Enforcement Program (Western Region), TVCSD, CTCSD, ROEB
• Inspection Unit Manager, Tobacco and Vaping Products Enforcement Program (Eastern Region), TVCSD, CTSCD, ROEB
• Senior Program Officer, Promotion and Internet Inspections Unit, TVCSD, CTCSD, ROEB
• Senior Program Analyst, OCRA, TCD, CSCB
• Junior Policy Analyst, Regulatory and International Policy Unit, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning (OPSP), TCD, CSCB
• Policy Analyst, Regulatory and International Policy Unit, OPSP, TCD, CSCB (Secretariat)

Canadian Vaping Association (CVA)

• Sam Tam, President
• Daniel David, Director
• Razin Alam, Director

Introduction

A meeting was held at the request of the CVA to provide updates to Health Canada (HC) on the vaping industry, the illegal market, and the organization's activities.

HC read the openness transparency statement, reminding CVA representatives that the meeting is subject to disclosure as per HC's Openness and Transparency policies. The handling of information and privacy notice was outlined and acknowledged. HC also referred to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, its international obligation to protect tobacco control policies from the vested interests of the tobacco industry. It was acknowledged by CVA participants.

The Chair then invited participants to introduce themselves.

Subjects

Vaping Industry Update

• The CVA stated that provincial excise taxes on vaping products have caused vaping retailers to shut down due to financial burden and has caused an increase in the illegal vaping market.
• The CVA stated that shifting consumer behaviour has also created challenges for the Canadian vaping market as consumers are increasingly buying products from non-Canadian websites and retailers.
• The CVA believes that misinformation in the media regarding the safety of vaping products has impacted small businesses.

CVA Illicit Market Update

• The CVA has undertaken research on illegal products for many years, however the organization is now focusing primarily on top offenders in the industry.
• The CVA stated that they have gathered evidence against a vaping company for non-compliance, which the CVA believes has given the company an unfair advantage in the market. The CVA has found non-compliance issues relating to nicotine concentrations and labelling requirements, and what the CVA believes to be unusual activity regarding the company's address.
• The CVA also discussed their findings for entry of illegal products into Canada, which come from China by sea or air to Vancouver, or by land through the United States.
• The CVA also provided findings of a flavoured vaping product being sold as an aromatherapy product in Quebec.

Updates on CVA Activities

• The CVA has initiated a vaping recycling program for retailers, which is funded by the industry.

HC asked the following questions:

• How does the CVA conduct its laboratory testing for nicotine concentration and where is the lab testing conducted?
  • The CVA responded that they conduct testing in their own lab and verifies results with an independent lab.
• Where are the samples from the tested products coming from (e.g. retailers, directly from distributors); does the CVA have records from where these were obtained?
  • The CVA obtained their products for testing from retailers, and has records the retailers obtained from suppliers.
• What is the general profile in particular of the retailers that are part of the CVA? This could provide context to HC in developing future guidance for regulated parties.
  • The CVA stated their members are very knowledgeable and articulate about the products and technologies, but that plain language guidance on flavour names (under Schedule 3 of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act) and key words that regulated parties should not use would be appreciated.
• Can the CVA provide more information on products the CVA has found to be brought into Canada from China?
  • The CVA stated that products are being mislabeled and unstamped products are being brought into the country. The CVA can do further research and provide follow-up information to HC.

Conclusion

The meeting was then concluded.

Documents

• Agenda as provided by the CVA