"Light" and "Mild" Terms
Health Canada is proposing regulations pursuant to the Tobacco Act, that would prohibit the use of the terms "light" and "mild", variations in their spelling, abbreviations and modifiers of those terms. Other parts of speech and grammatical forms of the terms "light" or "mild" would also be prohibited if used in the context of the proposed regulations.
The proposed regulations would apply equally to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, kreteks, bidis, tobacco sticks, cigarette papers, cigarette tubes and filters.
Further, the prohibition would cover the promotion of tobacco products and branded accessories which display the terms "light" and "mild". The proposed regulations would prohibit the use of the terms in advertisements of a tobacco product. It would also be prohibited to package a tobacco product in a package which displays the terms. As well, a branded accessory could not be sold if it displayed the terms. Finally, a tobacco product or branded accessory could not be displayed for retail sale if the terms are on the packaging of the product or accessory.
The removal of the terms "light" and "mild" supports one of the objectives of the Tobacco Act, that is, to reduce inducements to smoke.
Public Consultations
Prepublication in Canada Gazette, Part I
The proposed Promotion of Tobacco Products and Accessories Regulations (Prohibited Terms) and the associated  Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) were prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I on August 4, 2007.
How to Get Involved
This consultation is open for comment starting August 4, 2007 until October 18, 2007. Once you select the link for the consultation document, you will be able to read through the background and considerations, and submit your comments via email, by fax or in writing to:
Regulations Division, Tobacco Control Programme
pregs@hc-sc.gc.ca
Office of Regulations and Compliance
Health Canada
123 Slater Street
A.L. 3507C1
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9
Phone: 1-(866)-318-1116
Fax: (613) 941-1551
Interested parties may submit comments for consideration by Health Canada until October 18, 2007.
Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS)
Additional Information
Notice of Intent
In December 2001, Health Canada considered regulations to prohibit manufacturers and importers from selling a tobacco product in a package displaying the terms "light" and "mild" by publishing a notice of intent. The notice can be consulted at the Canada Gazette Web site, by selecting the Saturday, December 1, 2001 issue; the notice starts on page 4299.
Notice of Intent published in Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 1, 2001.
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