Innovative public health response to an event on the fringe of regulatory changes

During a period of regulatory uncertainty, a local public health unit in Ontario was notified of an exhibition for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and novel tobacco delivery products (NTDs), specifically e-cigarettes and waterpipes, which have seen increasing use particularly among youth. Relevant statutes creating regulatory uncertainty included a new provincial Electronic Cigarettes Act (ECA) with certain sections awaiting proclamation, and a local waterpipe bylaw awaiting approval, which would have prohibited the use of these products in public spaces if they entered into force ahead of the exhibition date. Public health staff had concerns the event would normalize use of ENDS/NTDs, particularly among youth, and also planned to enforce already proclaimed ECA sections, as well as the existing Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) with regulations applicable to use of tobacco shisha in waterpipes.

Public health staff contacted event organizers and proprietors to communicate obligations under the SFOA and ECA, as well as share hypothetical implications from pending regulatory changes, including risk of charges for regulatory non-compliance if regulations came into force ahead of the planned event.

Following discussion with health unit staff and legal consultation, the exhibition was cancelled.

By directly communicating regulatory uncertainty, a public health unit was able to achieve local health goals. In this situation, public health advised exhibition proprietors of potential event disruption implicated by forthcoming regulatory changes. Subsequent cancellation of the event prevented potential adverse health impacts for at-risk groups. A similar communications approach could be used to achieve public health goals during a period of regulatory uncertainty.