Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations (TPAPLR)
On this page
About the TPAPLR
The Regulations Amending the Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance), adopted under the authority of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act in 2023, amended the Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance) [TPR-PSA] to consolidate all appearance, packaging and labelling requirements under a single set of regulations. The TPR-PSA was renamed the Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations (TPAPLR) and the Tobacco Products Information Regulations (2000) and the Tobacco Products Labelling Regulations (Cigarettes and Little Cigars) (2011) were repealed. The regulatory amendments strengthen and expand health-related message requirements to all tobacco products on the retail market.
The TPAPLR are an important component of Canada's Tobacco Strategy, which aims to reduce tobacco use in Canada. The TPAPLR mandate that all tobacco product packages must display health warnings, including information on the quit line and available tobacco cessation web portal services, as well as toxicity information.
The TPAPLR are the first regulations in the world to require the display of health warnings directly on tobacco products (cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes, as well as cigarettes without tipping paper). They also continue to require the display of health information messages on the inside of packages of cigarettes, little cigars, and cigarette tobacco. These messages inform tobacco users about the benefits of quitting and provide tobacco cessation tips to help users of tobacco products live a smoke-free life.
Moreover, Schedule 1 of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act is amended through an Order to harmonize the requirements applying to the use of colouring agents.
Important features of the TPAPLR:
- Renewed health-related messages that are memorable, noticeable and impactful
- Health warnings and toxicity information extended to all tobacco product packages
- Minimum sizes for health warnings on all tobacco product packages
- Health warnings directly on cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes
- New placement for health information messages for cigarette packages
- Rotation scheme that alternates all health-related messages every 24 to 36 months depending on the product
- Pan-Canadian toll-free quit line number and web address to inform tobacco users about the availability of tobacco cessation services on all tobacco product packages
- Ambulatory incorporation by reference of the document entitled Labelling Elements for Tobacco Products (Source Document) to allow for future updates of the content and images featured in health-related messages
View the health-related messages required by the TPAPLR.
Implementation
The TPAPLR came into force on August 1, 2023. The regulations provide transition periods for manufacturers and retailers to comply with the new packaging and labelling requirements for tobacco products.
Entities that only package or distribute tobacco products on behalf of a manufacturer are not subject to these provisions. It is the responsibility of manufacturers and retailers to comply with the regulations by the dates indicated.
| Implementation Date | Action | Tobacco Products Affected |
|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2024 | Manufacturers to sell and distribute tobacco products displaying new health warnings, health information messages and toxicity information on all packages to retailers and distributors. | All tobacco product packages |
| April 30, 2024 | Retailers to sell tobacco products displaying new health warnings, health information messages and toxicity information on all packages to consumers. | All tobacco product packages |
| April 30, 2024 | Manufacturers to sell and distribute king size cigarettes displaying a health warning to retailers and distributors. | King size cigarettes |
| July 31, 2024 | Retailers to sell king size cigarettes displaying a health warning to consumers. | King size cigarettes |
| January 31, 2025 | Manufacturers to sell and distribute regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes displaying a health warning to retailers and distributors. | Regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes |
| April 30, 2025 | Retailers to sell regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes displaying a health warning to consumers. | Regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes |
| July 31, 2026 | Manufacturers to sell and distribute cigarette packages displaying a health information message on an extended upper slide-flap to retailers and distributors. | Cigarettes |
| October 31, 2026 | Retailers to sell cigarette packages displaying a health information message on an extended upper slide-flap to consumers. | Cigarettes |
Related resources
Further questions on the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and retailers under the TPAPLR can be directed to the Health Canada Office in your region.
Manufacturers and importers can also contact their regional office to obtain a copy of the source document entitled Labelling Elements for Tobacco Products, which is referenced in the TPAPLR.
The full text of the regulations is available on the Department of Justice Laws website.