Canadian tobacco bill stalls

A Canadian newspaper is reporting that a measure to ban all flavorings in tobacco imported into that country has hit a snag.

The Globe and Mail reported the law, Bill C-32, has stalled in that country's Senate following its approval by the lower chamber, the House of Commons. Senators now say they will not take up the bill until September at the earliest, the newspaper reported.

The bill would prohibit companies from manufacturing or importing cigarettes with flavorings, some of which are designed to taste like candy. But tobacco growers in the U. S. said the measure unintentionally would ban most American cigarettes, including those made with burley and flue-cured tobacco, that have minute quantities of flavoring to reduce the bitterness of the leaf.

U. S. tobacco growers and politicians from tobacco states, including some of Kentucky's congressional delegation, wrote to Canadian officials complaining the measure would effectively ban most American-made cigarettes and was a violation of free trade agreements, including NAFTA.

Roger Quarles, director of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative, said he is pleased the measure has been put on hold, at least temporarily.

“We will monitor, but it appears they hear the message and will make the change hopefully,” Quarles said.

Just last week, President Barack Obama signed into law a measure allowing FDA regulation of tobacco. The bill would also ban candy flavorings in cigarettes, but it does allow additives that disguise the harsh taste of the tobacco.