BAT pulls Vuse from Prince Edward Island stores, calls for strict enforcement of flavor ban
Imperial Tobacco Canada, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), recently took the drastic step of removing its Vuse vaping products from retail outlets in Prince Edward Island (PEI). This move is aimed at denouncing the lack of rigorous enforcement of provincial regulations prohibiting the sale of flavored vaping products, with the exception of tobacco flavors.
A withdrawal motivated by the lack of control by the authorities
Since March 1, 2021, the province of Prince Edward Island has enforced a strict ban on non-tobacco flavors in vaping products. However, BAT accuses local authorities of failing to enforce these regulations, allowing retailers to continue illegally selling products with prohibited flavors. According to the company, this laxity benefits the black market and endangers young consumers attracted to these unregulated products.
Eric Gagnon, vice-president of regulatory and external affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada, expressed concern about this situation. He pointed out that, despite the ban, many stores still sell flavored products, which are often more attractive to young people. "It is irresponsible to allow these illegal sales to proliferate without taking action. If regulations exist, they must be seriously enforced," he said.
Concern about the rise of the black market
BAT warns of the consequences of this lack of control. The company believes that the inaction of local authorities creates an environment conducive to the smuggling and illegal sale of vaping products. According to their observations, many retailers who continue to sell these non-compliant products do so with impunity, due to the low number of inspections and the lack of effective sanctions.
The black market for vaping is a growing challenge in Canada. With the ban on flavors, consumer demand has not disappeared, and some unscrupulous businesses are taking advantage of this to sell unauthorized products. As a result, BAT claims that its own regulated products are being unfairly penalized, while violators thrive.
Pressure on Quebec and other provinces
Prince Edward Island isn't the only province where BAT is seeking to push for stricter enforcement. The company has also warned Quebec, where a flavor ban is set to take effect on October 31, 2023. BAT warns that if Quebec authorities don't take firm action to enforce the regulations, they could face a similar situation to P.E.I.'s, with a resurgence of the black market and a disadvantage for law-abiding retailers.
Eric Gagnon emphasized that BAT has no intention of tolerating regulations that, in effect, favor offenders. "We made the difficult decision to remove Vuse from stores in Prince Edward Island, but we will not hesitate to do the same elsewhere if the situation does not change," he added.
What's next for the vaping market in Canada?
The standoff between BAT and Canadian authorities highlights a broader problem: the difficulty of enforcing flavor bans without unintentionally fueling the black market. While regulators seek to limit the appeal of vaping among youth, gaps in enforcement allow illegal networks to thrive.
In this context, BAT calls for stronger controls and tougher penalties for retailers who break the law. The company believes that only strict measures will curb illegal sales and ensure a more transparent and secure vaping market in Canada.
