Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Health and Community Services
June 6, 2016

Promoting a Healthier Society

Legislative Amendments Aim to Prevent and Reduce Smoking

A bill to amend the Smoke-Free Environment Act, 2005 and the Tobacco Control Act will undergo second reading in the House of Assembly today. The proposed amendments aim to further protect the public, in particular children and youth, from the harms of flavoured tobacco products (including menthol) and hookah smoking, and the potential harms of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

"Preventing and reducing smoking is a priority for our government. These amendments will help minimize the risk that flavoured tobacco products, e-cigarettes and hookah may lead to more young people starting to smoke. The legislation we are bringing forward is consistent with legislation in several other Canadian provinces and supports our larger goal of promoting healthy living and protecting public health."
- The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The proposed amendments will cover the sale, use and promotion of flavoured tobacco, e-cigarette, and hookah products throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Detailed information about the legislative changes is available in the backgrounder below.

"Our province has some of the highest rates of chronic disease in Canada. The amendments we are proposing are designed to protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, particularly our children and youth, from the harmful health effects of smoking. Flavoured tobacco, e-cigarettes and hookah are of concern as they are enticing to youth. These amendments support our government's commitment to promoting a healthier population and reducing health care costs."
- The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services.

Through Budget 2016, $250,000 in new funding has also been provided to support new and expanded programs and services to help individuals quit smoking. For more information on tobacco control or how to prevent or quit smoking, visit: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/healthyliving/tobaccocontrol.html

QUICK FACTS

  • Proposed amendments being introduced in the House of Assembly today will further protect the public, in particular children and youth, from the harms of flavoured tobacco products (including menthol) and hookah smoking, and the potential harms of e-cigarettes.
  • The main objective of the amendments is to prevent and reduce smoking in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly among children and youth.
  • The proposed amendments will cover the sale, use and promotion of flavoured tobacco, e-cigarette, and hookah products throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Budget 2016 provides $250,000 in new funding to support new and expanded programs and services to help individuals quit smoking.
  • For more information on Tobacco Control or how to prevent or quit smoking, visit: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/healthyliving/tobaccocontrol.html

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Media contacts:

Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
709-729-0928, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca 		Tina Williams
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-2837
tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Overview of Proposed Legislative Amendments to Prevent and Reduce Smoking

Proposed amendments to the Smoke-Free Environment Act, 2005 and the Tobacco Control Act will strengthen measures to protect people from the harms of flavoured tobacco products and hookah smoking, and the potential harms of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

Flavoured Tobacco
Proposed amendments will prohibit the sale of flavoured tobacco products (including menthol). The ban will apply to: cigarettes, cigarillos (little cigars), fine-cut tobacco, and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snus) that have a characterizing flavour (e.g., candy, bubble gum, fruit, and menthol) or are represented as being flavoured.

Electronic Cigarettes
Proposed amendments will:

  • Prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to persons under the age of 19;
  • Prohibit the sale where the sale of tobacco products is currently prohibited;
  • Prohibit use in indoor public places, workplaces and in motor vehicles when occupied by a person under the age of 16; and
  • Regulate the promotion (including advertising) and display in the same manner that the province currently regulates tobacco promotion and display.

Hookah
Proposed amendments will:

  • Prohibit the sale of non-tobacco shisha products to persons under the age of 19;
  • Prohibit the sale where the sale of tobacco products are currently prohibited;
  • Regulate the promotion (including advertising) and display in the same manner that the province currently regulates tobacco promotion and display; and
  • Prohibit hookah smoking of non-tobacco shisha products in indoor public places and workplaces including any existing hookah establishment.

Coming Into Force Dates
Upon Royal Assent

  • Prohibition on the sale of e-cigarettes and non-tobacco shisha to persons under the age of 19;
  • Prohibition on persons under the age of 19 from entering or working in a hookah establishment; and
  • Prohibition on the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places, workplaces and in motor vehicles when occupied by a person under the age of 16.

July 1, 2017

  • Prohibition on the sale of flavoured tobacco products (including menthol);
  • Prohibition on the sale of electronic cigarettes and non-tobacco shisha from places where tobacco sales are currently prohibited;
  • Restrictions on the display and promotion of e-cigarettes and non-tobacco shisha at retail stores in the same manner as tobacco promotion and display is regulated; and
  • Prohibition of hookah smoking of non-tobacco shisha in indoor public places and workplaces including any existing hookah establishment.

2016 06 06                              1:10 p.m.