The Provincial Government is launching consultations to seek input and recommendations from the public as it considers legislative amendments related to the purchasing of tobacco and related products.

An online questionnaire will be available on engageNL.ca early June for the general public, industry representatives, and health care organizations. Participants will be asked for feedback on a variety of topics, such as:

• Prohibiting the sale of tobacco to persons born after a certain date;
• Increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21; and
• Prohibiting sales of tobacco through vending machines.

There will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on vaping products. The peak age of smoking initiation is between 15 and 17, and the likelihood of smoking initiation decreases quickly after age 16. Tobacco remains one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s leading cause of disease, disability and death and remains a burden on the health care system.

The Department of Health and Community Services anticipates that making commercial and vaping products less accessible will further reduce the number of people who use the products.

The department will be hosting separate virtual sessions by invite only for certain stakeholder groups, such as industry and business owners and related health care associations and organizations. A virtual session for the public will also be hosted.

Residents who require an alternate format or prefer to provide a written submission are encouraged to contact tobaccoengagement@gov.nl.ca. All feedback received will be evaluated and considered by the department during the review.

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“We all know that tobacco and nicotine use has widely been connected to cancer, respiratory illness, and other adverse health impacts. Our government has set a goal of making Newfoundland and Labrador one of the healthiest provinces in Canada by 2031. As we consider amending legislation regarding smoking and vaping products, we encourage people and stakeholders to provide us with feedback.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

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Learn more
Smoking patterns based on birth-cohort-specific histories from 1965 to 2013, with projections to 2041

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