Canada Vape Flavor Ban Restarted: Nicotine Pouches to Blame?

The debate over flavor bans for vapes has resurfaced in Canada, even though it's been two years since the last discussions on the issue. Interestingly, this new wave of attention isn't sparked by any new problems with vapes, but rather by the rising popularity of nicotine pouches among minors. The popularity of these pouches has reignited the discussion on vape regulation, just as a newly appointed health minister is looking to plug existing regulatory gaps.

On March 20, 2024, Canada's Minister of Health made an official statement on the government’s website. The statement included plans to limit nicotine replacement therapy products, such as vapes, nicotine pouches, gums, and lozenges. The main points of the statement included:

1. Nicotine replacement therapies (especially nicotine pouches) are very popular among minors.
2. These therapies are important for smokers trying to quit, but non-smokers using them could face serious health risks.
3. The Ministry of Health is working on legislation that will limit advertising, flavors, and points of sale to protect minors.

The most notable development was the Ministry's invitation to several vape industry representatives to discuss the potential reimplementation of flavor bans, without any prior public warning. This move was confirmed by the general manager of the Canadian Vaping Industry Trade Association (VITA). Just the next day, on March 21, 2024, the Ministry released a follow-up notice. The proposal mentioned that new requirements being considered included measures to reduce the accessibility and appeal of vapes to minors, such as specific labeling and packaging requirements, and restrictions related to color, flavor, advertising, and sales locations.

In simple terms, Canada’s flavor ban is back on track, with new regulations in the works. But here’s the kicker: this whole mess started because of the boom in popularity of nicotine pouches. Back in June 2021, the Ministry had already proposed new regulations to limit flavors in vapes, banning the use of sweeteners and restricting flavors other than tobacco, menthol, and mint. However, the flavor ban scheduled for January 2022 was never implemented, and people almost started assuming it was a dead issue. Anti-vaping groups even went so far as to declare in March 2023 that it was time to admit that the flavor ban was “dead.”

Then, in July 2023, Canada authorized the sale of Zonnic nicotine pouches for smoking cessation. This move was seen as a significant shift in policy, recognizing the potential benefits of nicotine pouches in reducing smoking rates. But here’s where things get weird: Zonnic was classified as a natural health product rather than a tobacco product, which meant there were no restrictions on where it could be sold, who could buy it, or where it could be advertised. This led to the absurd situation where nicotine pouches were sold alongside candy and chocolates, with a "warning" that they were not suitable for people under 18. However, there was no legal ban on selling to minors, and as a result, nicotine pouches exploded in popularity among Canada’s youth.

In fact, media outlets pointed out how nicotine pouch brands were marketing their products on platforms like Instagram, showing young people using them in various social settings. The marketing tactics eerily resembled the old tactics used by Juul to attract young users. And as you’d expect, this got the attention of the newly appointed Health Minister, Mark Holland, who took office just a few days after the Zonnic approval in July 2023. Holland had a front-row seat to the chaotic rise of nicotine pouches, and now, he had a chance to clean up the mess.

Let’s take a quick look at Mark Holland’s background. He lost his seat in the House of Commons in 2011, but regained it in 2015. During that time, he worked for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and had the support of anti-nicotine groups and medical professionals. This gives him a strong foundation for pushing forward the flavor ban agenda. And given that Canada has been notably unsuccessful in protecting minors from vapes, it makes sense that Holland would be motivated to take a tough stance on the issue.

In fact, recent data from the Ministry of Health revealed that Canada has one of the highest youth vaping rates in the world. Among 61,000 students surveyed from grades 7 to 12, 8% of them reported vaping every day, and among grades 10 to 12, 12% were daily users. A study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal also found that nearly half of Canadian youth had either tried or used vapes. This has led to significant public health concerns, with groups like the “No-Smoke Canada Physicians” (NSCP) criticizing the government for allowing new nicotine products to enter the market without proper controls. Cynthia Collard, the executive director of NSCP, raised the question: “Haven’t we learned anything from vapes? How could the Ministry of Health allow another type of nicotine product to be sold?”

So, why do I say this is an unnecessary disaster for vapes? It’s because of the nicotine pouch craze. If nicotine pouches hadn’t exploded among minors, this wouldn’t have even been an issue. Instead, the focus would still be on regulating vapes, but now the two products are lumped together.

Fast forward to February 11, 2025. According to a report by Filter, the Canadian government recently decided to delay the implementation of the vape flavor ban. The original plan was to restrict vape flavors to only tobacco, menthol, and mint, with the goal of reducing youth vaping. However, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Ya'ara Saks, confirmed that the ban would be postponed, with no set date for implementation. This has been welcomed by tobacco harm reduction advocates, who argue that vape flavors play a crucial role in helping smokers quit. They pointed to a recent study that found that between 2020 and 2022, one in five Canadian smokers tried to quit using vapes, with 68% using flavors that might be impacted by the ban.

On the other side of the debate, public health organizations expressed disappointment, insisting that the ban was still necessary to protect youth from nicotine addiction. These groups argue that flavored vapes are too appealing to minors, increasing the risk of nicotine dependence. Canada’s government first proposed the flavor restrictions in 2021, arguing that sweet and fruity vape flavors were the main reason for the growth in youth vaping.

While the federal government has delayed the ban, several provinces have already implemented similar policies. Currently, six out of Canada’s ten provinces, including Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, have enacted flavor restrictions. The ban in Quebec took effect in 2023, and tobacco harm reduction advocates have pointed out that this has led to a 36% increase in people returning to traditional smoking. Minister Saks hasn’t provided any clear indication of when the federal flavor ban will be rescheduled, but industry insiders believe it could be revisited after the upcoming federal elections.

Some experts have warned that the flavor ban could fuel the illegal market for vapes or lead some smokers to return to traditional cigarettes, undermining public health goals. Consumer rights organizations like Rights 4 Vapers have also strongly opposed the ban. In 2024, over 100,000 Canadians submitted letters to the government in support of the freedom to choose vape flavors, and they’ve pledged to continue fighting for this right.

For now, Canada’s vape flavor policy remains in flux. The debate between the government, public health organizations, and tobacco harm reduction advocates is far from over, and the ultimate decision could be influenced by the upcoming elections.

If you’re interested in staying updated on global vape regulation, be sure to check out Space Mary Vape, where we discuss how these regulatory changes may impact the industry in countries like Russia, Mexico, Turkey, and the Philippines. And if you’re looking for new vape products, be sure to explore the Space Mary SM8000 for a premium vaping experience. Also, stay informed on how regulations are tightening in regions like France and beyond!