Item - 2014.HL33.1

The Board of Health:

1.         Endorsed Toronto Public Health's public Position Statement on Electronic Cigarettes included in Attachment 1 of the report (August 1, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health;

2.         Recommended that the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Regulations to:

a.         prohibit e-cigarette use wherever smoking is prohibited;

b.         prohibit sales of youth-targeted flavoured e-cigarette products; and

c.         prohibit e-cigarette displays in retail stores and restrict sales of e-cigarettes to minors.

3.         If the provincial government has not acted to regulate e-cigarettes within six months, requested the Medical Officer of Health to report in consultation with the City Solicitor and other municipal officials as appropriate, on municipal regulation to prohibit e-cigarette use in Toronto wherever smoking is currently prohibited under local or provincial legislation;

4.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work in the interim with the City Manager to explore development of an administrative policy prohibiting e-cigarette use in the workplace;

5.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to enhance current public education and outreach efforts by Toronto Public Health on potential health impacts to users and those exposed to the vapour from e-cigarettes.

6.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health in February 2015 on the following motion by Councillor Cho:

"That the Board of Health recommend to the Provincial Government that e-cigarettes becomes a product available only at licensed drug stores, subject to normal regulatory approvals."

7.         Recommended the Federal Minister of Health amend federal legislation to:

a.         regulate all e-cigarettes, cartridges and liquids to ensure manufacturing consistency and accurate labelling;

b.         regulate the maximum quantity/dosage of nicotine in e-cigarettes;

c.         require that e-cigarette liquids are sold in child-proof bottles; and

d.         restrict e-cigarette marketing, advertising and promotion, consistent with existing tobacco legislation; and

e.         develop, as appropriate, a regulatory framework for the possible sale of e-cigarettes as part of a tobacco smoking cessation strategy.

8.         Requested Health Canada:

a.         to enforce current prohibitions on e-cigarettes making a health claim without appropriate assessment, evaluation and market authorization; and

b.         to monitor research on adverse health effects of e-cigarette use and second-hand exposure; and

c.         to conduct research on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation or replacement aid.

9.         Forwarded the report (August 1, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to the four Toronto School Boards, Toronto's Universities and Colleges and Toronto Hospitals to encourage them to adopt policies prohibiting e-cigarette use on all indoor/outdoor property;

10.       Forwarded the report to the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association and Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas to encourage them to encourage their members to develop in-house policies to address e-cigarette use on their property;

11.       Forwarded the report (August 1, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health for information to the Parks and Environment Committee; and

12.       Forwarded the report (August 1, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health for information to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division; General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division; the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; the Minister of Health and Long Term Care; the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health; and Public Health Ontario.