84% of Vape Shops Inspected by Health Canada Violate Existing Regulations

Convenience Store Industry Calling on Government to Increase Penalties on Businesses That Repeatedly Ignore Current Laws

TORONTO, June 25, 2020 /CNW/ - According to the Vaping Product Enforcement Report recently released by Health Canada, speciality vape stores are routinely ignoring strict government regulations around selling vaping products. Given the rise of youth vaping and recognized health risks, an association representing independently owned convenience stores is demanding the government shut down businesses that openly and repeatedly ignore existing regulations.

The United Korean Canadian Industry Association (UKCIA) represents more than 2,000 independent convenience stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. Last fall, the UKCIA issued a release warning that governments in Canada were creating an unlevel playing field when it came to selling vaping products. This included giving unfair advantages to specialty vape stores; the same stores that are overwhelming violating current regulations. The report summarized inspections conducted late last year on all stores selling vaping products and the results were shocking. 84% of the 1,080 vape shops inspected were found to be in violation of one or more offence. This included 60% exhibiting illegal promotions, and 59% of vape stores selling prohibited flavours.

"Convenience stores, including our members, have been selling a very small range of vaping products to smokers looking to transition away from tobacco", stated Toronto store owner Kenny Shim. "Our members have a long track record of compliance when it comes to following regulations.  We take our responsibility for selling age-restricted products very seriously, and we remain frustrated that governments are letting vape shops get away with these violations. It's time to shut down stores that regularly break the law", Kim added.

The UKCIA and their provincial counterparts regularly work with their members to ensure store owners know the rules and regulations set by government. The Health Canada report indicates that 13% of 2,083 convenience stores inspected also had violations, and while nowhere near the vape store offenses, that number is far too high. The association is working closely with the store owners identified that are UKCIA members to ensure they understand existing regulations and do not reoffend.

Numerous reports and studies have shown minors are not purchasing vaping products from their local convenience stores. Instead, they are getting them from friends, purchasing them online, or in some cases, buying them from vape stores that are not following existing laws. If protecting youth from the dangers of vaping is a priority for government, it is time they turn their focus away from convenience stores and instead toward the growing specialty sector of vape stores that are regrettably, largely ignoring existing government regulations.

SOURCE Ontario Korean Businessmen's Association

For media inquiries please contact: Kenny Shim, UKCIA Spokesperson, 416 414 6518