Amendment Would Ban Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies

Amendments to the Tobacco Access Act introduced today would ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in pharmacies and toughen enforcement of the province's tobacco laws.

"This is another step in our goal to create comprehensive legislation around tobacco," said Health Minister Jim Smith. "The amendments would broaden our ability to control access and strengthen existing legislation around enforcement."

The amendments would prohibit the sale of tobacco in pharmacies or places where there is direct access to a pharmacist. Another proposed change would affect the way tobacco products are displayed in stores.

Three other provinces have already passed laws banning the sale of tobacco in pharmacies: Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Before deciding on the amendments, the Department of Health consulted with the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, as well as the Nova Scotia Pharmaceutical Society. Other stakeholders included the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Lung Association of Nova Scotia, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.

arc May 27 1999 3:33 p.m.