New Tobacco Legislation Effective May 31

Legislation banning the sale of flavoured tobacco and treating e-cigarettes like tobacco products comes into effect Sunday, May 31, World No Tobacco Day.

“I’m proud that Nova Scotia now has the most progressive tobacco legislation in Canada,” said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine.

“It’s a big step to further protect the health and safety of Nova Scotians, especially our youth, from the harms of tobacco.”

Under the Tobacco Access Act, the ban includes flavoured cigarettes, cigarillos, most cigars and pipe tobacco, flavoured papers for rolling tobacco, and flavoured tobacco products that are not smoked, such as chewing tobacco and snuff.

“Nova Scotia is the first place in the world to have a flavoured tobacco ban in effect that includes menthol,” said Barbara Stead-Coyle, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia Division. “Other provinces are taking note and following Nova Scotia’s lead. We’ve set the standard for others to follow.”

Regulations under the Tobacco Access Act will exempt the following:
–- port, rum, wine and whiskey flavoured pipe tobacco, and these flavours of cigars that weigh five grams or more, and cost $4 or more
— e-cigarettes and e-juice

The act also makes it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors, and to display or promote them in stores where minors are allowed.

The Smoke-Free Places Act prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in the same indoor public and work places where smoking is prohibited.

More information about the province’s tobacco legislation is available at http://novascotia.ca/dhw/healthy-communities/tobacco-act-amendments.asp .

Source: Release