The selling of vaping goods with flavors other than tobacco (or unflavored) may soon be prohibited in Quebec. Additionally, e-liquid sold in bottles larger than 30 mL and prefilled devices bigger than 2 mL are forbidden by the new provincial health standards.
The regulations were duly published in the official provincial gazette on August 2 and go into force on October 31—90 days after that date.
The draft regulations that were released in April initially revealed the flavor prohibition along with other requirements. More than 30,000 Quebecers took the time to comment on the planned flavor ban, according to a news release from the Coalition des droits des vapoteurs du Québec (CDVQ—the Quebec Vaping Rights Coalition). However, in spite of the widespread outcry, the health ministry chose not to alter the regulations.
The majority of vape stores in Quebec are expected to close as a result of the flavor restriction, as Vaping reported in April. At that time, the 400 independent vape stores across the province were scheduled to close, according to the Alliance des boutiques de vaping du Québec, or the Alliance of Vape stores in Quebec.
Quebec is the most populated province in Canada, home to 8.5 million people, and the biggest to enact a flavor prohibition. Flavor prohibitions are in effect in four other provinces and territories: the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Nunavut has also enacted a ban, although it hasn't been put into effect yet. Only adult-only establishments, such as vape shops, are allowed to sell flavored goods in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
