OTTAWA, March 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's leading health agencies today
welcomed the re-introduction of legislation to crack down on the marketing of
novelty tobacco products designed to attract young smokers.
"We are very grateful to Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis for proposing
legislation to strengthen Canada's tobacco laws and to protect young Canadians
from new and dangerous novelty tobacco products," said Manuel Arango, the
Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco. "We hope that all
parliamentarians will work together to support speedy passage of this law."
The NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North today re-introduced a private
members bill to amend the federal Tobacco Act and curb the marketing of
cigarillos and other flavoured tobacco products.
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis's proposed legislation closes these loopholes by:
requiring that cigarillos be sold in the same size packages as cigarettes,
requiring cigarillos to carry the same type of health warnings as cigarettes,
banning the use of candy, liquor and other flavourings in tobacco products and
banning the sale of 'blunts', another novelty tobacco product.
This bill is consistent with an announcement made by the government
during the recent federal election campaign to establish a minimum package
size for cigarillos, to prohibit flavor and additives that would appeal to
children and to ban all tobacco advertising and promotion in print and
electronic media which may be viewed and read by youth. The federal government
has yet to take action on this election campaign commitment - although we are
hopeful that this will change soon.
In recent years, candy-flavoured cigarillos and other novelty tobacco
products have become a significant threat to Canadian youth. Health Canada
data shows that sales of cigarillos have grown dramatically from 53 million in
2001 to 403 million in 2007 (based on Health Canada's definition of
cigarillos).
A recent federal government survey of smoking behavior showed that
Canadian teenagers are even more likely to try smoking cigarillos than they
are to experiment with cigarettes, and that many teenagers who resist smoking
cigarettes are drawn into cigarillo use. In terms of addiction and other
health effects, these products are as dangerous as cigarettes; because they
are especially attractive to young Canadians, they have the added risk of
being 'starter' products for people who might otherwise never become smokers.
The groups point to weaknesses in current tobacco laws as a cause of this
growing problem. Canadian law distinguishes between tobacco products which are
wrapped in paper made from tobacco leaves (cigarillos) and those which are
wrapped in paper made from trees (cigarettes). Unlike cigarettes, which cannot
be sold in packages with fewer than 20 units, cigarillos can be sold
individually and without health warning messages and are not included in many
other tobacco control measures.
"Loopholes in the current law have allowed tobacco companies to mask a
deadly and addictive product in candy flavouring, to package it in bright
colours, to price it like a candy bar and to induce one-third of Canadian
teenagers to give it a try." said Dr. Robert Ouellet, President of the
Canadian Medical Association. "The legislation introduced today would put a
stop to this irresponsible commercial activity by banning flavoured tobacco
products such as cigarillos."
"There has been an alarming increase in the use of cigarillos - a problem
acknowledged by many governments over the past few years," said Robert
Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society. "This bill
presents the first opportunity to stem the tide in a comprehensive fashion
across the country." The Ontario legislature passed a similar private member's
bill last December, although the Ontario government has not yet put this law
into force.
"This bill would also protect young Canadians by prohibiting the use of
flavourings in chewing tobacco", said Cynthia Callard, Executive Director of
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. "The increased marketing of flavoured
"chew" in Northern Ontario and elsewhere has been identified by young
Canadians as a priority for legislative action." This bill would address the
problems with chew tobacco identified by the youth-led "Flavour Gone"
campaign.
The Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco is a national coalition of
health organizations. Members supporting this initiative include: the Canadian
Cancer Society, the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control, the Canadian Dental
Association, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Medical Association,
the Canadian Public Health Association, Coalition québécoise pour le contrôle
du tabac, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Non-Smokers' Rights
Association, the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco and Physicians for a
Smoke-Free Canada.
For further information: Lucie Boileau, Canadian Medical Association,
(613) 731-8610, ext. 1266; Cynthia Callard, Physicians for a Smoke-Free
Canada, (613) 233-4878; Rob Cunningham, Canadian Cancer Society, (613)
565-2522, ext 305
