How the Act affects you

Retailers of tobacco and vapour products

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 regulates the sale and supply of tobacco and vapour products, and the display and promotion of tobacco products, tobacco product accessories, and vapour products.

For more information read the following factsheets:

Further details on this regulation can be found on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (Government of Ontario) website.

Specialty Vape Shop Registration

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places, such as retail stores. The SFOA, 2017 defines “use” to include the holding of an activated electronic cigarette (i.e., turning it “on”), as well as inhaling and exhaling vapour from the electronic cigarette. The SFOA, 2017 also restricts the display and promotion of vapour products.

However, the Ontario Ministry of Health recognizes that some retailers’ main business activity is selling vapour products, and that the display and promotion restrictions and places of use ban may place a burden on these businesses that previously displayed and promoted vapour products and allowed customers to test and sample vapour products in store prior to purchase.

As a result, the SFOA, 2017 has exemptions that allow specialty vape stores to display, promote and test/sample vapour products. To qualify for this exemption a retail establishment must be registered as a specialty vape store with the local board of health for the public health unit in which the business is located.
To be registered as a specialty vape store please fill out the attached registration form and submit it to Public Health Sudbury & District by:

Email: Health_Protection@phsd.ca
Fax: 705.677.9607
Mail: Public Health Sudbury & Districts
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON P3E 3A3

• Application for Registration as a Specialty Vape Store English (1MB PDF)

Enclosed workplaces, public places, and other designated places

The Act prohibits the smoking of tobacco, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis (medical and recreational) in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places, as well as other designated places in Ontario, to protect workers and the public from second-hand smoke and vapour.

For more information read the following factsheets:

Further details on this regulation can be found on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (Government of Ontario) website.

This item was last modified on November 12, 2020