Amendments would close the loophole that allowed the marketing of certain flavoured cigars
March 6, 2015
Delivering on a commitment made by the Prime Minister, the Government of Canada today announced proposed regulatory amendments to the Tobacco Act to further restrict flavours used to market cigars that appeal to youth.
Despite success in reducing smoking rates among youth to a record low, surveillance shows young Canadians are still using flavoured cigars. This is why the Government of Canada is taking action to further restrict the use of flavours in most types of cigars marketed to youth.
The amendments would build on the restrictions introduced in 2009 through the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, limiting the marketing of tobacco products and making them less accessible and attractive to youth. Since that time, however, Health Canada has observed the introduction of resized cigars in the same flavours as those that were on the market before the 2009 amendments to the Tobacco Act.
The proposed amendments would apply to these newly introduced cigars and reflect comments from stakeholders and the public received during consultations last fall, and have been pre-published in Canada Gazette, Part 1 for a 30 day public comment period.
"Our Government is taking strong action to protect Canadians from the dangers of tobacco use. By further restricting the marketing of flavoured tobacco products that appeal to youth, our goal is to maintain the success we have achieved in reducing smoking rates in Canada to among the lowest in the world."
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
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Health Canada
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