Here's a response to a letter I sent to Health Canada:
Thank you for your email dated December 12, 2012 concerning electronic cigarettes. In Canada, electronic smoking products, such as e-cigarettes, that contain nicotine or make health claims, fall within the scope of the Food and Drugs Act. This means that these products require marketing authorization prior to being imported, sold or advertised for sale in Canada. To date, no e-cigarettes containing nicotine or with health claims have received marketing authorization from Health Canada.
To receive marketing authorization, a company must make a submission to Health Canada with scientific evidence demonstrating the safety, quality and efficacy of their product for a given claim, such as smoking cessation. While Health Canada has authorized for sale a number of nicotine-based smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers and nicotine lozenges, to date, Health Canada has not received a submission for e-cigarettes that provides sufficient evidence of safety, quality and efficacy.
Electronic cigarettes that do not fall within the scope of the Food and Drugs Act (no nicotine, no health claims) may meet the definition of a consumer product, and are subject to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This act requires that companies ensure the consumer products they manufacture, import, advertise or sell do not pose a danger to human health or safety.
Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase or use e-cigarettes as these products have unknown safety, quality and efficacy, and may pose health risks. For further information, Health Canadas Public Advisory can be found at:
[url]http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2009/2009_53-eng.php[/URL]
_____________________
Kendal Weber
Director General / Directrice générale
Thank you for your email dated December 12, 2012 concerning electronic cigarettes. In Canada, electronic smoking products, such as e-cigarettes, that contain nicotine or make health claims, fall within the scope of the Food and Drugs Act. This means that these products require marketing authorization prior to being imported, sold or advertised for sale in Canada. To date, no e-cigarettes containing nicotine or with health claims have received marketing authorization from Health Canada.
To receive marketing authorization, a company must make a submission to Health Canada with scientific evidence demonstrating the safety, quality and efficacy of their product for a given claim, such as smoking cessation. While Health Canada has authorized for sale a number of nicotine-based smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers and nicotine lozenges, to date, Health Canada has not received a submission for e-cigarettes that provides sufficient evidence of safety, quality and efficacy.
Electronic cigarettes that do not fall within the scope of the Food and Drugs Act (no nicotine, no health claims) may meet the definition of a consumer product, and are subject to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This act requires that companies ensure the consumer products they manufacture, import, advertise or sell do not pose a danger to human health or safety.
Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase or use e-cigarettes as these products have unknown safety, quality and efficacy, and may pose health risks. For further information, Health Canadas Public Advisory can be found at:
[url]http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2009/2009_53-eng.php[/URL]
_____________________
Kendal Weber
Director General / Directrice générale
