Health Canada Stance

[diddlepants]

Just wondering if Health Canada has issued any updated information, rulings, findings, etc at all to indicate that they have even looked at any evidence since 2009 when they claimed that there was insufficient evidence to make any decisions about e-cigarettes? I can't find anything (except for a warning about fire risk for oxygen tank patients).

2009 advisory:
Archived ? Health Canada Advises Canadians Not to Use Electronic Cigarettes - Recalls & alerts - Healthy Canadians Website

 

[retired1]

As far as HC is concerned, vapers are devil spawned and vaping should be relegated to the deepest depths of Hades.

 

[Hitmetwice]

But every corner store and gas station can sell the no nic ones to 4 year olds since then.
And they wonder why kids are doing it?
And call it bad and blame the flavours.

Just where the heii are their priorities?
Like we don't know. Lazy sob's.

 

[diddlepants]

Ya, and the implications of their advisory are that VG/PG/Flavoring are ok, so it must be the nicotine itself that is harmful. Yet, one can import cigarettes but not e-juice due to health concerns.

It seems like they have just been sitting on their hands for 6 years now, I really can't locate anything at all from them. I will attempt to request information from them this week, I'll let you know how that goes....

 

[Hitmetwice]

Ya, and the implications of their advisory are that VG/PG/Flavoring are ok, so it must be the nicotine itself that is harmful. Yet, one can import cigarettes but not e-juice due to health concerns.

It seems like they have just been sitting on their hands for 6 years now, I really can't locate anything at all from them. I will attempt to request information from them this week, I'll let you know how that goes....

They are so far up big pharmas .... that when they fart HC wipes their nose.
They won't do a thing until BP lets them know what to do next.(farts)

 

[retired1]

It seems like they have just been sitting on their hands for 6 years now, I really can't locate anything at all from them. I will attempt to request information from them this week, I'll let you know how that goes....

They're waiting to see what the FDA does. In 2009, the FDA got spanked pretty soundly by the courts when they attempted to categorize e-cigarettes as medical devices. HC was probably looking to do something similar until the FDA was sent packing.

Now, by classifying it as a tobacco product, they hope to regulate it in a different way through the deeming regulations. This is what Health Canada is waiting for and I'm sure we'll see them set forth rules of their own once the FDA sets things in stone.

 

[diddlepants]

They're waiting to see what the FDA does. In 2009, the FDA got spanked pretty soundly by the courts when they attempted to categorize e-cigarettes as medical devices. HC was probably looking to do something similar until the FDA was sent packing.

Now, by classifying it as a tobacco product, they hope to regulate it in a different way through the deeming regulations. This is what Health Canada is waiting for and I'm sure we'll see them set forth rules of their own once the FDA sets things in stone.

Thanks Retired, I am sure you are correct. Still, I would like to see any evidence that our own government agencies are putting some effort into this major issue. After all, we don't get to vote for American politicians, nor do we necessarily have to adopt their policies.

 

[retired1]

Bear in mind, the FDA is a separate entity from the legislative branch of the government. While it's possible that the Legislature can pass laws that give the FDA their marching orders, the FDA is its own rule making authority within the guidelines set forth by the politicians. Unless the Legislature passes a federal law saying e-cigarettes are not tobacco products, the FDA can pretty much do what they will.

At that point, it's up to the Judicial Branch to reign them back in. And I don't see that happening this time as Big Tobacco will throw a lot of resources into seeing that they're the only game in town.

 

[diddlepants]

Bear in mind, the FDA is a separate entity from the legislative branch of the government. While it's possible that the Legislature can pass laws that give the FDA their marching orders, the FDA is its own rule making authority within the guidelines set forth by the politicians. Unless the Legislature passes a federal law saying e-cigarettes are not tobacco products, the FDA can pretty much do what they will.

Granted, that's how it works in theory, but I am a firm believer that politics and politicians have a strong part to play in FDA decisions. With billions of tax dollars at stake and the very future of industries on the line, one can be damn sure that they have their noses in there one way or another. At the least, it is difficult to argue that many of the legislative decisions on e-cigarettes in North America so for have been based solely on empirical evidence and with the health of citizens as the primary concern. I would be surprised to see the FDA stray too far from the teat. With that as a (debatable) premise, I would argue that the crap rolls down hill from American politics, through the FDA, and to our own Health Canada. If HC was willing to make its own decision as to what is best for its own citizens, it wouldn't be twiddling its thumbs waiting to hear what the Jones' have to say.

At that point, it's up to the Judicial Branch to reign them back in. And I don't see that happening this time as Big Tobacco will throw a lot of resources into seeing that they're the only game in town.

I Can't argue with your conclusion, however.

 

[Ilikecoffee]

The National Post had an article very recently that shows where Health Canada's head is at.

My take:

Health Canada is under marching orders from the Govt, who are far too drunk on rich, lucrative tobacco taxes to do anything to promote the use of e-cigarettes as a cessation method. I did some very rough calculations, and a 2 pack a day smoker in BC provides about $6,200 in tax revenue to federal, provincial, and municipal governments every year. I can't find the link, but I recall researching years ago just before I quit that the average smoker puts an (additional) annual burden on the healthcare system of around $2,500 per year. Do the math. And non smokers should thank smokers for easing their tax burden.

Also, Health Canada is far too much in the pocket and interest of big pharma. Why do you think those crappy 4% success rate nicorette (tm) products get so much play, shelf space, and endorsement by Health Canada, but a method that can see up to a 75% cessation success rate (I've seen numbers as low as 45% (omg!), and as high as 85%) is threatened with repressive regulation, no government funded proper and objective study, possible taxation, and possible banning? Why does a drug that has "increased suicidal thoughts" on the label get endorsed by Health Canada (yeah, I know, more recent studies say that suicide thing is a lark, but I wonder who's funding those studies? Pfizer?).

I live my life by "actions speak louder than words". The govts say they want smokers to quit, but they really don't. They like the revenue too much.

- m

 

[diddlepants]

Thanks for the link. The more research I do into the subject the more apparent their stance becomes, even if they blatantly lie about it.

 

[GreekDude1821]

Well it seems HC and the doctors have separate views. 2 people who I know who have been smoking 40+ years have been told by doctors to switch to vaping.

 

[Smok-ey]

I should send my doctor chart of my before when I smoked and After when I started vapor'ing.
5 month and my system is getting better and healthier...
What else do you want...? I found the best solution... Put your headphone on and ignore stupid people as it is not their fault.