A tobacco products registry:
a novel approach from Quebec
François Damphousse, M.Sc.
Non-Smokers’ Rights Association
February 2011
Comprehensive approach
Tobacco control:
• Ban on all tobacco advertising and promotion
• Plain and standardized packaging
• Display ban
• Pictorial health warnings
• Smoking bans
• Tobacco taxes
• Product regulation (e.g. ban on flavours)
• Etc.
Comprehensive approach
Contraband tobacco:
• Control of raw materials
• Control of tobacco manufacturing equipment
• Tobacco tax markings
• Quota and refund systems
• Increased penalties
• Special enforcement units (ACCESS, VITAL)
• Mass-media campaign
• What about a tobacco products registry?
Contraband: Better
equip police officers
“According to the 11 page
document, a registry would
be created to make it easy
for police forces to detect
illicit products and brands.”
Le Soleil
11-08-2010
Pilot Project VITAL
In May 2008, the Quebec Health and
Laval Police launched operation
“VITAL” (Vente Illégale de Tabac à
Laval), a pilot project to counter the
illegal tobacco trade in Laval.
Since its launch, the project resulted in:
• seizures of 2 250 000 cigarettes
• seizures of $95 000 and 8 vehicles
• formal charges laid against 218
people
• the issuing of 320 indictments
Quebec Health Ministry proposal
• Amend the Quebec Tobacco Act to set up and maintain
a registry of tobacco products sold in Quebec.
• Each type of tobacco product (cigar, cigarette, cigarillo,
etc.), each brand and even each member of a brand
family (smooth, mellow, rich, etc.) will have to be
registered.
• Only manufacturers with both provincial and federal
licences will be allowed to register their products.
• Nobody can possess, sell or promote a tobacco product
which is not listed in the registry.
• Authority will be granted to all Quebec police forces to
use the registry as an enforcement tool.
How will the registry help?
• An on-line registry would provide an effective
tool for all police officers to check if a
suspicious tobacco product is legal or not.
LEGAL
ILLEGAL
ILLEGAL
LEGAL
How will the registry help?
• An on-line registry would provide an effective
tool for all police officers to check if a
suspicious tobacco product is legal or not.
• By collecting a substantial fee to register each
tobacco product, the government could raise
sufficient funds to set up special enforcement
units across the province.
Police officers in
schoolyards
“Almost all of the
province's regions would
be covered by 20
planned units, each
including three
inspectors. According to
the police forces
estimate, the budget for
year one would amount
to $12.8 million.”
Le Soleil
11-22-2010
Police officers in
schoolyards
“Without funding, this
project will sink into
oblivion… These types of
measures do not
constitute a priority for
police organizations
because of very limited
human resources.”
Quebec Association
of Chiefs of Police
Le Soleil
11-22-2010
Montreal Police
Brotherhood
“Mister Mayor, have you
dialed 911 lately?”
“Mister Mayor, give the
means to police officers to
respond adequately to citizens
who dial 911.”
Le Devoir
09-11-2010
Why should the tobacco industry
fund the fight against contraband?
“…it’s the tobacco industry itself which is
responsible for the renewed interest in
contraband tobacco.… By illegally supplying
the illicit tobacco networks like it did in the
1990s, it planted the seed for an even stronger
lure for monetary gain among those who
profited from the black market trade at the
time.”
Editorial, Le Soleil, 2006
How will the registry help?
• An on-line registry would provide an effective
tool for all police officers to check if a
suspicious tobacco product is legal or not.
• By collecting a substantial fee to register each
tobacco product, the government could raise
sufficient funds to set up special enforcement
units across the province.
• The government could impose standards on
tobacco products to be eligible for the registry.
Plain and standardized packaging
Brand name
Quebec Health Minister's
plan garners unanimous
support
“For once, the anti-tobacco
lobby and retailers are in
agreement. They both
encourage the Health
Minister to move ahead
with a bill that will allow
him to get directly involved
in the fight against
contraband tobacco.”
Le Soleil
11-09-2010