Quebec to increase regulation of vaping products including banning flavours

QUEBEC CITY – The Quebec government announced Wednesday that it will amend a regulation to better regulate vaping, in an effort to prevent and promote health and healthy lifestyles, especially among young people.

Quebec plans to prohibit the sale of vaping products with a flavour or aroma other than tobacco, as is the case for tobacco products. It will also limit the maximum concentration of nicotine in all vaping products to 20 milligrams per millilitre.

In addition, the new regulation will restrict the capacity of tanks and capsules to 2 milliliters and the maximum volume of refill containers of vaping liquids to 30 milliliters.

A framework will also be implemented for certain characteristics of vaping products, including those that may make them attractive to youth.

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The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and the Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, state that this draft regulation follows the recommendations of the special intervention group on vaping, which is composed of representatives from various government departments and agencies, the Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ), clinicians and public health directors.

Data cited by the Quebec government show that the use of vaping products among youth is on the rise. The proportion of youth who vaped in the 30 days prior to a survey has increased fivefold in six years, from 4% in 2013 to 21% in 2019.

The changes will require an amendment to the regulations under the Tobacco Control Act. The publication of the regulations will be followed by a consultation period in the coming weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 19, 2023.