| Section | Link to Section |
|---|---|
| Danger 400 Vape Stores | A Danger To 400 Vape Stores In Quebec |
| Flavor Prohibitions | Flavor Prohibitions Have Now Been Enacted In Six Out Of Thirteen Provinces And Territories. |
The Quebec health ministry has proposed draft laws that would outlaw the sale of flavored vaping products (except tobacco taste) and outlaw devices that are prefilled with more than 2 milliliters and e-liquid bottles larger than 30 milliliters. Additionally, the laws would cap the strength of nicotine at 20 mg/mL (2 percent); nevertheless, federal regulations currently require this same level of nicotine.
The proposed regulations were released on Wednesday and are expected to go into effect on July 20, which is ninety days after they are published. Christian Dubé, the minister of health and social services, is accepting comments from anyone who opposes the restrictions for a maximum of forty-five days.
This year has brought nothing but negative news for vapers and vaping businesses in Quebec. In addition to the federal tax that vapers already pay, the province had already declared its plan to levy a high tax on vaping products. A 60 mL bottle of e-liquid costs roughly $10 more after the federal tax alone; the proposed Quebec tax would effectively double the amount of tax paid for each bottle.
A Danger To 400 Vape Stores In Quebec
A flavor restriction may cause vapers to migrate to illegal flavored disposable vape pens or purchase online from vendors in other provinces, which will reduce the size of Quebec's independent vaping market. The draft regulations recognize that the majority of the economic harm will fall on specialty vape businesses.
With 8.5 million citizens, Quebec is the second most populated province in Canada. The Alliance des Boutiques de Vaping du Québec, or the Alliance of Vape Stores in Quebec, reports that the province is home to more than 400 independently owned vape stores, supporting over 2,200 jobs and bringing in over $300 million in revenue annually. The trade association believes all of the stores will close.
In agreement is the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA). "Canada has already witnessed firsthand in Nova Scotia how the specialized industry was destroyed ninety days after a flavor prohibition. According to a press release from the CVA, "Quebec will face thousands of business closures, job losses, broken lease agreements, and terminated contracts with tertiary suppliers."
Flavor Prohibitions Have Now Been Enacted In Six Out Of Thirteen Provinces And Territories.
The draft regulations will make Quebec the largest jurisdiction in Canada to outlaw flavors if they are put into effect, which is likely. The populations of the four other flavor-banned provinces and territories are substantially lower: Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories.
Although it has not specified when it will go into effect, Nunavut has likewise approved a flavor ban. Only adult-only establishments, such as vape shops, are allowed to sell flavored goods in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
A flavor ban was suggested by Health Canada, a federal health department, in 2021, and was supposed to go into effect in early 2022. However, this idea appears to have been shelved or delayed indefinitely without any explanation. The taste limitations are not mentioned on Health Canada's revised website on laws on vaping products.
