The Canadian government has suspended a ban on vape flavors, which some tobacco harm reduction advocates fear is tied to the upcoming federal election rather than based on science and health considerations.
As reported by Filter on February 11, the Canadian government has suspended the implementation of the vape flavor ban, a decision confirmed in January by the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Ya ‘ara Saks.
Health advocates stressed the decision had only been delayed rather than reversed and was expected to be discussed again after the federal election.
After meeting with Sachs in January, Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for Smoke-free Canada said, “We won’t see a ban on vape flavors this year. We are very disappointed.”
Health Canada first proposed a ban on vape flavors in 2021. The ban recommends limiting flavors to menthol, tobacco, and menthol, as sweetness can increase adolescent use. In October 2024, as disagreements over the flavor ban intensified, supporters of the ban even called for Sacks to leave. Tobacco control groups urged Sacks to oppose “intimidation lobbying,” noting that flavors are particularly important for quitting smoking and saving lives.
Janine Timmons, Canada’s tobacco harm reduction advocate, noted that she hoped Minister Sachs’s suspension of discussions was based on thoughtful consideration of the decision. Still, she was concerned that the issue was being shelved because a federal election could be held as early as the spring.
Six Canadian provinces, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, have imposed taste bans. Advocates for tobacco harm reduction say Quebec’s 2023 ban has had a “catastrophic impact in every way.” They estimated that 36 percent of vape users in Quebec had returned to smoking cigarettes in December.
