Vaping Compliance and Enforcement Report April 2024 – March 2025: Retail

Summary

From April 2024 to March 2025, Health Canada inspectors conducted on-site inspections at retail locations to verify industry compliance with the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA).

During this period, 546 specialty vaping establishments were inspected and non-compliance was observed at 43% of the establishments. Health Canada seized non-compliant vaping products at 235 specialty vaping establishments as a result. The most common types of non-compliance were the promotion of prohibited flavours, testimonials or endorsements, packaging that did not meet the requirements for displaying a health warning, and packaging that indicates the nicotine concentration of the vaping substance exceeds 20 mg/mL. Further details on the observed non-compliance(s) and enforcement actions taken for each of these establishments are listed in the data linked below.

Health Canada also conducted on-site inspections at 2354 gas and convenience stores to verify industry compliance with the TVPA. Vaping products were available for sale and inspected at 2136 stores. Non-compliance pertaining to the requirements for vaping products was observed at less than 1% of the 2136 gas and convenience stores inspected where vaping products were sold. Health Canada seized non-compliant vaping products at 12 gas and convenience stores as a result. The most common types of non-compliance were the prohibited promotion of flavours and packaging that did not meet the requirements for displaying a nicotine concentration statement or health warning.

For tobacco products, non-compliance was observed at 18.5% of the 2353 gas and convenience stores inspected where tobacco products were sold. Health Canada seized non-compliant tobacco products at 435 gas and convenience stores as a result. The most common type of non-compliance was packaging that did not meet the requirements under the Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations.

Observed non-compliances and related enforcement actions listed in the reports were determined by Health Canada at the time of inspection and are limited to the location or product(s) inspected. Inspections may only include a selection of products and promotions found at an establishment. The reports provide information on the results of an inspection conducted during a specified period and are not updated to take into account additional compliance activities which may have occurred following the inspection.

For more information, the full Vaping compliance and enforcement data (retail inspections) used to create this summary is accessible through the Open Government Website.

For any questions related to an enforcement report or to report an error, please contact: hc.tcp.questions-plt.sc@canada.ca

Lexicon

The following terms may be used in Vaping Product Enforcement Reports and are outlined for your convenience.

Enforcement Action(s): Action(s) taken by an inspector to stop the non-compliance or to bring the product(s) or activity(ies) into compliance with the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) and/or the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) (e.g. warning letter, seizure or stop sale, and/or prosecution).

• Seizure (TVPA): An enforcement action for controlling non-compliance during an inspection. Items seized may remain on-site or may be removed from the establishment.
• Voluntary recall (CCPSA): Action by the establishment to notify the public about the hazard(s) associated with a product. A recall may include instructions to return, obtain product correction or dispose of the affected products.

Inspection: An activity to assess compliance with the law and, where non-compliance is observed, to initiate action(s) to require the regulated party to comply with the law.

Observed non-compliance(s): One or more contravention(s) of the TVPA and/or the CCPSA as identified by a Health Canada inspector.