Ban on Tobacco Products in Pharmacies Effective Jan. 1

A ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in pharmacies will go into effect Jan. 1. The restriction is one of several amendments to the Tobacco Access Act passed in the Legislature this June.

The revised act prohibits the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, establishments with a pharmacy on the premises and places where there is direct access to a pharmacist.

Health Minister Jamie Muir said prohibiting pharmacies from selling addictive tobacco products to Nova Scotians sends a very positive health message to young and old alike.

"Smoking is a serious health concern that requires serious attention," said Mr. Muir. "These changes will become part of other efforts to implement broad and comprehensive tobacco control strategies."

Before proposing 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.

Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have passed laws banning the sale of tobacco in pharmacies as well.

In addition to the pharmacy ban, vendors are no longer permitted to display tobacco in a countertop display, sell unpackaged cigarettes or sell packages of fewer than 20 cigarettes. Changes to the act have also helped strengthen enforcement of the province's tobacco access law, resulting in fines of up to $2,000 for a first offence or up to $10,000 for a third offence. These amendments went into effect in June.