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HOW CRC AFFECTED THE CANADIAN VAPE INDUSTRY
Posted on 24 February 2022
It has now been about a year since the updated Vaping Products Labeling and Packaging Regulations (VPLPR) came into effect and changed the trajectory of the vape industry across the country. The changes were slowed significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic, enough that many people may not have realized they happened at all. Presently, it seems the Canadian vape industry has taken this new direction in stride. As more and more changes become evident to consumers, we figured now would be the perfect time to discuss the new regulations and answer some common questions that vape users may have.
Why were these regulations changed? According to the Government of Canada, the regulations laid out in the VPLPR Part 1 and Part 2 are intended to prevent young persons and non-tobacco users from being exposed to nicotine products, and to reduce the risk of young children ingesting nicotine, respectively.
What changed with the VPLPR Part 1? Part 1 lays out guidelines for manufacturers and retailers in regards to the packaging and advertising of vape products. These changes specifically will have minimal effect on you as a consumer. You may notice that the label on your favourite e-liquid flavour has undergone a redesign, or possibly a name change. This is because the new regulations require a nicotine warning label to be clearly visible on the front of all products containing nicotine, and restrict the designs that can be used on e-liquid bottles. Luckly, the juice inside will remain unchanged.
What changed with the VPLPR Part 2? The biggest change you’ll notice if you’ve been vaping since before January 2021 is the CRC provision in Part 2 of the VPLPR. “CRC” stands for Child Resistant Container, a set of regulations that restrict the means by which a vape or vape component can be opened. A more complete list of CRC regulations can be found here, but the short version is that all refillable pods and tanks now require additional steps to open, either by operating, puncturing, or removing one of its functional parts by using a tool that is not supplied with the container. A device can also be CRC certified if it meets the standards laid out by a recognized child resistance protocol, or if the device is permanently sealed and pre-filled.
What does this mean for me as a consumer? Well, there's some good news if you’re a fan of disposables or closed pod devices like STLTH because those devices won’t be affected by the new regulations. However if you’re currently using a non-CRC compliant tank you may run into some problems. Since the new regulations were proposed, major vape brands like SMOK and Aspire have been working diligently to create products that meet our needs as consumers, as well as adhere to the CRC guidelines. As a result we’ve seen the phasing out of some popular pre-2021 devices, and their replacement parts. It’s been a year since the new regulations took effect, and replacement parts for pre-2021 devices are increasingly difficult to find. I would heavily recommend switching to a CRC certified device, just to save yourself the headache. Many companies have released CRC versions of some of their most popular devices, so it’ll be easy to make the switch. CRC certified products are also labeled with an orange CRC sticker for added clarity.
If you’re unsure about whether or not your current device is CRC compliant, drop by your local vape shop. The experts there will be able to answer all your questions about the new regulations and help you find a device that meets all current Canadian safety standards.
