Statement from Anne Kothawala, President and CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada
“The recently reported rise of contraband nicotine products in Canada is an issue that the Convenience Industry Council of Canada has been sounding the alarm on for years. These items are illegal, fund organized crime, and are increasingly being accessed by youth online – undermining public health and safety.
We do not condone the sale of illegal products in any convenience store, and have proactively advocated for legal products to be age-gated and kept behind the counter. All CICC members undergo training programs, like ID Please. With a 97% compliance rate, as measured by Health Canada, it is clear that the vast majority of convenience stores are responsible retailers. However, the problem is that the current approach to regulating these products is fuelling the growth in the contraband and counterfeit market. Stronger enforcement and better coordination across all levels of government is needed to address this issue.”
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