Tobacco & Vapour Products Enforcement Program

In Vancouver Coastal Health, the Regional Tobacco & Vapour Control Program ensures tobacco and vapour product retailer compliance with:

• Provincial Public Health E-Substances Regulation (ESR)
• Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act 
• Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation 

Routine inspections form the foundation of the Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Program. These inspections represent an opportunity to educate the retailer & assess compliance with product, display, advertisement and signage requirements. Routine inspections are conducted when businesses first start selling tobacco or vapour products, when there is a change in ownership, and then semi-annually to confirm ownership, provide information, signage and to check compliance. All aspects of the program are discussed during the routine inspection.

Compliance checks are done to gauge a retailer's compliance with the regulations respecting the sale of tobacco & vapour products to those of legal age. A team of Minor Test Shoppers (MTS) are recruited and trained to assist the Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Officer (TVEO) when conducting compliance check. 

TVEOs utilize discretion when applying increasing levels of enforcement to ensure regulated parties comply with regulatory requirements. Progressive enforcement includes education, warnings, and if these early steps are unsuccessful in gaining compliance, proceeds finally to various penalties.  These penalties can include the issuance of provincial violation tickets, correction orders, pursuing long-form prosecution, and the use of administrative hearings to seek out administrative penalties.