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New Vape Regulations – Effective July 1, 2020

Dear Industry Stakeholders, The Ministry of Health (‘ministry’) has recently been made aware of communications circulating among retailers from industry representatives about the implementation and enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) regulatory amendments that came into effect on July 1, 2020. The ministry takes this opportunity to provide clarity to ensure that the industry representatives and retailers are aware of the expectations for compliance with the regulatory amendments. As previously communicated, the ministry is aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the normal operation of businesses. However, despite these circumstances, the Ontario government is not delaying the implementation of the regulatory amendments to the SFOA, 2017 that came into force on July 1, 2020. This means that, as of July 1, 2020, businesses are expected to comply with the regulatory amendments and Public Health Unit SFOA inspectors will be responsible for assessing compliance. As with any requirement under the SFOA, 2017, SFOA inspectors will employ a progressive enforcement approach to achieve compliance with the new regulatory amendments through a balance of education, inspection and the use of warnings and graduated charging options to reflect the frequency and severity of non-compliance. The ministry acknowledges that the timeline for achieving compliance may be impacted by the reduced or limited operational capacity of retailers during this time. Therefore, the ministry has asked SFOA inspectors to first prioritize education and awareness of the new requirements to support compliance among businesses. The ministry is encouraging SFOA inspectors to work collaboratively with non-specialty retailers to ensure prohibited vapour products are removed from stores, which may include returning flavoured vapour products and high nicotine-containing vapour products to suppliers (e.g., manufacturers and wholesalers) in order to comply with the new SFOA, 2017 regulatory requirements. SFOA inspectors are provincial offences officers under the Provincial Offences Act and exercise independence in their approach to enforcing the SFOA, 2017. This means that SFOA inspectors maintain their discretion to lay charges for non-compliance with the new regulatory requirements where circumstances warrant. The ministry hopes this information has been helpful and provides clarity with respect to enforcement of the new regulatory amendments. The ministry requests that you clarify the expectations around compliance with your respective retail partners as soon as possible. Dianne Dianne Alexander Director, Health Promotion and Prevention Policy and Programs Branch Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Ministry of Health

All convenience stores are expected to comply with the new vape regulations effective July 1, 2020. There is much confusion around these changes with various correspondences coming from other associations and manufacturers that the deadline has been extended to December 31, 2020.  It has not. The risk selling product in violation of the Smoke Free […]

OCSA, Coca-Cola & Sheridan College team up with Safety Shields for Convenience Stores

OCSA Coke Convenience Stores

The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) and family run convenience stores in Ontario are proud to partner with Coca Cola Canada and  Sheridan College on protective shields for our industry. The safety of our employees and customers is our #1 priority and we appreciate the support of everyone from Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited. In conjunction […]

Covid-19 Safety Checklist

Covid 19 OCSA checklist

Daily reminders to keep your customers, your staff and yourself safe.   ✔️  Ask Customers to be respectful of Space and social distancing ✔️  Install and maintain a sneeze/employee safety shield ✔️  Encourage debit or credit card transactions (minimize cash handling) ✔️  Sanitize counters, Cooler doors, entrances, debit machines and lottery ticket holders and selling […]

OLG Issues Thank You Letter To Convenience Stores

OLG logo

Convenience stores sell 76% of all lottery products in Ontario and this category is our single largest traffic generator and impulse sales driver. During the last 10 weeks, our family-run independent stores have once again demonstrated their importance by continually serving lottery players in every community, working electronically with our sales contacts and responsibly driving […]

Age Testing and Covid-19 Masks

OCSA Covid face mask id checking

We encourage all convenience stores to ensure they can properly age test and identify tobacco purchasers during these COVID 19 times. The OCSA has reached out to the Ministry Health and SFOA asking for a prodigal of their expectations of identifying tobacco purchasers who are now wearing safety masks. We need all 34 Public Health […]

Buy Local – Posters for Stores

As we move into summer 2020 and through COVID 19, we have seen businesses, employment and families throughout Ontario affected. We need to work together to get our economy back on track by making a commitment to supporting the family run small business throughout Ontario in every community. Better yet make a point to support […]

Smoke-Free Ontario Act – Vape Regulations July 1 2020

Ontario Convenience Stores Association - Smoke free regulations

Amendments to Ontario Regulation 268/18 were made to address the prevalence of youth vaping. These amendments strengthen the restrictions on youth access to vapour products to protect children and youth under 19 from the harms associated with vaping and address parental, public and health stakeholder concerns about the increase in youth vaping. The following amendments […]

Safe and Responsible Community Retailers

The convenience store in your neighbourhood is there for you. They practice safe distancing, they clean and disinfect constantly and they provided the items you need on a daily basis. We would like to take a moment to thank all of the 78,000 employees who work in convenience stores throughout Ontario.  

Essential and Always Prepared

ONtario convenience stores open during Covid19

Convenience store retailers across the provide provide essential items for the community. We are up early and stay open late to be there for you. Thank you to all of the convenience stores for staying open and working hard for us.

OCSA Retailers are Proud to Serve the People of Ontario

Convenience store proud to serve in Ontario

Convenience stores in Ontario have been bringing in new items for their customers, stay open late and getting up early in the morning to be there for their community. Being part of the community is what a convenience store is all about. Stay safe everyone!