Evidence of meeting #43 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was products.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chair of the Board, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada
I believe that sales of any type of electronic cigarette product to adolescents should be banned, regardless of flavour.
Liberal
Senior Vice-President, Global Regulatory Affairs, NJOY
Yes, we fully support a ban on e-cigarette sales to minors.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you so much.
I'm going to ask about potential advertising, because there are broader issues here. The World Health Organization says regulations are required to address this and that an appropriate government body must restrict e-cigarette advertising, promotion, and sponsorship so that it does not target youth and non-smokers or people who do not currently use nicotine.
Would you support that?
Chair of the Board, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada
I would absolutely support marketing restrictions for never-smokers and for youth, but it is important to have some aspect of marketing to let current smokers know that the product is available. I would support some very specific marketing restrictions—absolutely.
Liberal
Owner, TVC Liquids
I agree. When it comes to advertising, I think that if we're saying to stop smoking and start vaping because it's going to help you stop smoking, we're looking at a health claim. But if we simply say to stop smoking and start vaping, we're looking at an opinion. That's going to make the user delve further into that to find out what vaping is and how it works, and we're encouraging a lesser-harm option through that specific type of advertising.
Liberal
Senior Vice-President, Global Regulatory Affairs, NJOY
We believe that advertising is critically important to raise awareness of this new class of products, but unfettered advertising with no restrictions, no rules, and no limitations is entirely irresponsible. Therefore, we support restrictions on advertising that allow it to take place with appropriate rules that are enforced by an appropriate body.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you.
I'm going to ask all of you this: do you think there is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that e-cigarettes help users quit smoking?
Chair of the Board, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada
There is sufficient scientific evidence. There should be more, but a number of surveys have been done—one that includes 19,000 individuals all across the world—which show that, over a period of time, 81% of them have been able to completely stop smoking and switch to using electronic cigarettes. So yes, I believe that the evidence is there. It would be good to do more research on this, but it does help, absolutely.
Liberal
Chair of the Board, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada
There's one major study. There are also a lot of other smaller ones, online surveys, and other indications. That's why I said that it would be great to do more and to have a structure here in Canada so we could monitor that.
Liberal
Owner, TVC Liquids
I believe there's sufficient evidence, but I believe that it's replacing smoking with a lesser-harm option; it's not quitting smoking. You're not essentially quitting. You're just replacing combustion with vaporization, and you're getting the health-related benefits of nicotine and not all the combustion, carcinogens, and chemicals that you face with cigarettes.
Liberal
Senior Vice-President, Global Regulatory Affairs, NJOY
We believe that the evidence to date is encouraging; however, more evidence is needed to be completely conclusive. We support and are anticipating any additional research in Canada as well. Should Health Canada allow it, then we will be partnering with agencies and institutions in Canada to gather additional data.
But we can look to the U.K. with a very valuable study by Professor Robert West, which in a real-world setting has demonstrated—
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
I'm aware of West.
Thanks to all of you. I guess my concern is that the Wold Health Organization has been very clear that there is currently insufficient evidence. I need to bring that forward.
One of the other concerns the WHO has is that existing evidence shows that e-cigarette aerosol is not merely water vapour, as is often claimed in marketing. While they are less likely to be toxic than conventional cigarettes, WHO is suggesting that e-cigarettes pose a threat to adolescents and to fetuses of pregnant women using these devices.
Chair of the Board, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada
There have actually been numerous studies on that fact. The 27-page report that I've provided the committee goes over that very specific thing.
The fact of the matter is that it's true that it's not simply water vapour that is emitted. There are propylene glycol, a very minimal amount of nicotine, and some other constituents, but because vapour dissipates so quickly in the atmosphere it doesn't have any type of biological effect upon inhalation by a bystander. That's been shown over numerous studies. As I've said, I have cited those studies, and they are in that report.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ben Lobb
That's great. That's seven minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you for bringing up the advertising component of it.
Mr. Young, you're up next, sir.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Wells, I'd like to ask you a question first. I wonder if I could please request brief answers because I have three questions in seven minutes. Thank you.
Mr. Wells, one of the largest markets for marijuana and alcohol in Canada is minors, and minors can't buy alcohol or tobacco in stores. That's because teens like to act like adults. Maybe they like to rebel a little bit, and they like to try things that are stimulating. Why would barring the sale of e-cigarettes prevent minors from getting them in Canada?
Owner, TVC Liquids
Thank you for the question.
I really don't understand why we're so bent over this. Would we rather have teens smoke cigarettes? When I was 13, the store was selling me cigarettes. I smoked for 13 years—
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Sorry. Do you think that banning the sale would stop teens from getting your products?