Health Canada going after flavoured cigars

Health Canada is looking at changing the regulations concerning the sale of flavoured cigars or cigarillos, which now do not require a health warning.

'They're cute, they're colourful, they're elegant.' — Kelsey Doucette, SWITCH

The Canadian Cancer Society has registered its concerns about the products. They come in a number of flavours — peach, wild berry, chocolate mint — which leads the society to believe they are being targeted at children. Sold individually, they are also affordable, at about $1.50 each. The youth group SWITCH, which operates out of the P.E.I. office of the cancer society, has been lobbying against them.

"These things are small, they're cute, they're colourful, they're elegant," SWITCH member Kelsey Doucette told CBC News Friday.

"It doesn't have any of warning signs or anything, so we think it's a really big issue."

Most tobacco products carry graphic warnings about the numerous health concerns connected with smoking. The flavoured cigars, however, are exempt. They are classified as cigars, which mean they can be sold individually and therefore don't need a warning because there isn't space for one.

Change coming

That could soon change, says Health Canada spokesman Mathew Cook. Cook said Health Canada is recognizing the problem of youth smoking the flavoured cigars, and looking at banning their individual sale.

"We're recognizing this new type of class of products," said Cook.

"We're recommending that they not be sold in packages of less than 20 units. In doing so, they will be forced to be put into larger packages and they will carry a health warning."

Cook says larger packages will cost more and that will also discourage sales.

Changing the regulations could take at least another year.