B.C.’s health minister says he understands there might be some concerns from convenience stores that will no longer be able to sell flavoured vapour products as part of new regulations that went into effect yesterday.

However, Adrian Dix calls the restrictions a necessary public health step to protect young people from the dangers of vaping.

“Vaping products were essentially legalized provincially in 2015, and federally in 2018. We took the steps to limit the places where flavoured vaping products can be sold to places that only allow adults, and I think that’s a practical measure,” he said. “All age stores will be able to sell vaping products but only tobacco flavoured ones.”

The regulations restrict the content, flavour, packaging, advertising, and sale of vapour products in the province. Chief among the changes is the restriction to the amount of nicotine allowed in vapour pods, which will be restricted to 20 mg/ml, similar to a pack of 20 cigarettes.

Dix says all new retailers will need to comply with the regulations immediately, but existing retailers will have until September 15 to sell off their stock.

“This is a necessary public health step to protect young people from vaping and from vaping they’re not allowed to do, and to take action against the distribution of flavoured vaping products in B.C.,” he said. “I think its a necessary step, I think its the right step.”

“There are limitations on the sale of this kinds of products already, and I think this is a practical response to a very urgent public health need.”

Dix thanked the MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson for his dedication to keep vaping products out of hands of children.

Stone took to twitter to say that while the regulations are a bit different from what his party had called for, by and large B.C.’s vaping action plan is a good start.

“We will monitor the situation to ensure the plan keeps these addictive and harmful products out of the hands of our kids,” Stone said. “They deserve nothing less.”

While differing a bit from what we had called for, by and large B.C.’s vaping action plan is a good start. We will monitor the situation to ensure the plan keeps these addictive and harmful products out of the hands of our kids. They deserve nothing less. @adriandix #bcpoli https://t.co/u2g18nZqw6

— Todd Stone (@toddstonebc) July 20, 2020