Flavoured smokes snuffed out in Canada

CBC

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/06/29/canada-flavoured-smokes.html

A new law, set to come into effect in July, aims to snuff out the sale of flavoured smokes while reducing the temptation among kids to take their first puff.

The measure, part of Canada’s anti-tobacco law Bill C-32, forbids the country’s retailers from selling fruit- and candy-flavoured little cigars, cigarettes and rolling papers made of tobacco.

The law takes effect across the country on July 5, however, Ontario pushed up its date to July 1. Retailers, who were given nine months to remove the products from their shelves, could be fined if caught selling the goods.

The bill, introduced in Parliament a year ago, is aimed at reducing the smoking rate of school-aged children. A 2008-09 school year survey suggests that 40 per cent of students in grades 10 to 12 had tried smoking cigarillos.

“There is simply no justification for tobacco products to be flavoured with candy, ice cream and fruit flavours,” Rob Cunningham, a Canadian Cancer Society spokesman, said in a press release.

“The risk is that these flavoured products can be a starter product for kids who would never otherwise start smoking. This bill is going to protect our kids from starting smoking and encourage more adults to quit.”

Some manufacturers are trying to skirt the new law by enlarging the size of cigarillos and altering the labelling on the packages. Canada Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq slammed the big tobacco companies for trying to buck the new rules.

“Not only does this action go against the intent of the legislation; it endangers the health of Canada’s children. We will deal with this issue and will continue working to ensure that Canada’s children are protected from the dangers of tobacco,” the minister said in a release.

Bill C-32, which was passed last year, also banned all tobacco advertising in Canadian newspapers and magazines.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/06/29/canada-flavoured-smokes.html#ixzz0sMvQsYvz