Health Canada has barred the sale of liquid nicotine, but it鈥檚 being openly sold in the unregulated market of e-cigarettes, a 麻豆传媒 investigation has found.
As e-cigarettes or 鈥渧aping鈥� gains popularity in Canada, many sellers and health officials are united in calling for federal regulation.
鈥淲e need the proper regulations where we can function on a daily basis,鈥� said Sebastien Roy, of the Canadian Vaping Association, who represents more than 300 e-cigarette retailers.
Some argue those regulations could better control the sale of liquid nicotine.
Dr. Meena Dawar, of Vancouver Coastal Health, says Health Canada鈥檚 ban on liquid nicotine has been ineffective.
鈥淎nyone can manufacture it using any ingredients anywhere,鈥� .
Melodie Tilson, of the Non-smokers Rights Association, said nobody is tracking where liquid nicotine comes from before it reaches store shelves.
鈥淲e know of people that are producing e-liquid with nicotine, which is a poison, in their basements,鈥� .
鈥淲hat kind of standards are they adhering to? It truly is the wild west.鈥�
Last March, a Standing Committee on Health
Advocates hoped that the committee鈥檚 report would be a catalyst for change, but so far there鈥檚 been little action from the federal government.
Health Minister Rona Ambrose said she takes the committee鈥檚 report seriously.
鈥淲e are just in the midst of looking at what we would do to implement that,鈥� she said.
The committee recommended better safeguards, clear labelling, and strict manufacturing rules.
With
