The government's trying to close loopholes that allow cigar makers to continue producing the flavoured cigarillos that are popular with teen smokers, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Thursday.
In response to a question by NDP health critic Megan Leslie, Aglukkaq said Health Canada officials are taking another look at the current rules for cigarillos, which were updated last summer.
“We're investigating that (closing the loopholes), yes ... I would love to make an announcement on that,” Aglukkaq said.
“This is a moving target, as you know.”
The Tories promised during the 2008 election to change the law to make cigarillos less enticing to teens.
The new rules took effect last July, banning companies from adding flavouring to small cigars with 1.4g of tobacco or less, as well as the ones with filters and the ones sold as singles.
Manufacturers changed the size slightly and removed filters in some cases, allowing them to continue selling the flavoured product.
Cigar makers argue the flavoured product is popular with adults too and that teens use far more unflavoured tobacco products than they do flavoured.
Aglukkaq also told the House health committee she put cigarette labelling changes on hold so her department can consider whether they're the most effective way to reach smokers.
“I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a step back to re-examine whether we are making the investment in the right place,” as part of a prevention strategy, she said.
Aglukkaq said more people are smoking contraband cigarettes, which come in plastic bags and don't have warning labels, and that the department's trying to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to get its message out.
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