We applaud the federal government for banning the sale and manufacture of flavoured tobacco products, and for setting minimum size packaging requirements for cigarillos and blunt wraps. The announcement was made in the spring of 2009 and the manufacturing ban and minimum packaging requirements came into effect April 6, 2010. We look forward to the completion of the implementation of the legislation with the retail sales ban coming into effect July 5, 2010.
Previous to the ban, tobacco companies manufactured and sold products in flavours such as cherry and chocolate in an obvious attempt to get kids to start smoking. This kind of flavoured tobacco product often served as a “starter” tobacco product for young people, and since they were sold individually or in “kiddie packs”, they were also affordable to price-sensitive youth.They are as addictive and dangerous to one’s health as cigarettes.
We applaud the efforts of the federal government in protecting the health and welfare of the nation’s young people by closing these tobacco loopholes and urge for the hasty completion of the mechanisms to do so.
Sincerely,
R.F. Bobbe Wood, MA President & CEO Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
Scott McDonald Executive Director BC Lung Association
For more information, contact: Jack Boomer Director, Clean Air Coalition of BC
www.cleanaircoalitionbc.com
