The Canadian Cancer Society praised the federal government’s announcement of new regulations to limit the sale of nicotine pouches.
The regulations require that nicotine pouches be sold exclusively in pharmacies, specifically from behind the counter. This practice has already been adopted in British Columbia and Quebec.
Additionally, there will be limitations on advertising, flavour options, and product labelling. These national restrictions are set to take effect on Wednesday with a six-month grace period for the advertising and labelling provisions.
Senior Policy Analyst Rob Cunningham said these new measures put an end to the easy access young people have had to a very addictive substance.
“These restrictions will help protect youth from tobacco industry marketing and from nicotine addiction. We must avoid a repeat of the experience that has seen a dramatic increase in youth vaping,” said Cunningham.
According to findings from the society, a significant number of smokers began their journey with tobacco in their teenage or pre-teen years.
While Canada has seen improvements in curbing youth smoking, officials said there is a rising trend of adolescents gravitating towards other nicotine options, especially vaping.
During the 2021-22 school year, 24 per cent of Canadian high school students in grades 10 to 12 were vaping, a notable increase from the nine per cent reported seven years earlier.
With the arrival of flavoured nicotine pouches on the market last year, the society said there is growing concern about the potential for youth to become addicted to these new tobacco products.
