In order to better protect Saskatchewan youth from risks associated with vaping, The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act takes effect on Saturday.
“I’m excited to have this legislation in place,” Minister of Health Jim Reiter said. “This legislation will protect Saskatchewan youth from the harmful effects of vapour products. If you never smoked, then don’t vape.”
“Vapour products are highly addictive, trendy and extremely popular among teens and young adults,” Vice President of Community Engagement at the Lung Association of Saskatchewan Jennifer May said. “The Lung Association and its Youth4Change groups congratulate the government on the implementation of The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act. This is a great day for lung health as there has been a dramatic rise in youth vaping over the past few years and this will help protect the health of Saskatchewan kids.”
The new legislation is similar to measures found in other provinces and territories in Canada with vaping legislation in place. To address vapour products, The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act contains provisions that:
- restrict the sale of vapour/e-cigarette devices and products to individuals 18 years of age and older;
- prohibit the display of vapour/e-cigarette products in a retail business where young persons have access;
- restrict the use of vapour/e-cigarette products in and around public buildings, including schools and school grounds, in the same manner as our provincial tobacco legislation;
- prohibit the sale of vapour/e-cigarette products from specified facilities such as amusement parks, arcades, and theatres where youth frequent;
- restrict advertising of vapour/e-cigarette products in the same manner as tobacco products by prohibiting advertising signs and promotional signs in areas where young persons can enter;
- provide the ability to restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco and vapour products by regulation; and,
- expand the authority of tobacco enforcement officers to include enforcement of vapour/e-cigarette product restrictions.
For further information on the changes, please visit: saskatchewan.ca/vaping.
