Health Canada’s (HC) Tobacco Products Directorate has embarked on a public consultation to inform a mandated legislative review of the vape-related aspects of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA), which was last amended in 2020.
Even though the public is invited to comment, HC is sending confusing messages with this process, which suggest it is somewhat confused.
Not long ago (September 2021) HC asked for input on proposals to further restrict flavored vaping products. The responses to that consultation are still being processed and no report has been published. Now, there is another consultation that haphazardly asks questions of respondents as if HC was starting back at square one.
There are no legislative proposals to comment on, just a set of 22 questions so vague that, if they were an attempt at a freedom-of-information request they would be rejected on cost grounds. The only defining feature of this latest process is its obvious bias against harm reduction.
Solely focusing on unproven downsides of vaping, the headline discussion points of HC’s questions speak of “protect(ing)” young people, of “restricting access,” of the public being “deceived” and “misled,” and of “health hazards.” This type of wording leads to misinformation and has a disastrous effect on smokers trying to quit.
Martin Cullip – InsideSources – 2022-04-26.