Legislation
Legislation or laws and policies about tobacco use and promotion have changed significantly in the past 30 years. These changes helped to lower smoking and tobacco use. These laws and policies make healthier, cleaner public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Newfoundland and Labrador has two pieces of legislation that guide tobacco rules in the province while also using Federal tobacco laws.
The Smoke-Free Environment Act 2005 (click to expand) »The Smoke Free Environment Act 2005, guides where you can and cannot use tobacco products in the Province, it gives details for indoor and outdoor public spaces. |
The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act (click to expand) »The Tobacco and Vapour Product Control Act directs how and where stores and retailors can sell and distribute tobacco products in the Province. |
The Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (click to expand) »The Government of Canada has many policies working toward a shared goal of lowered tobacco use in the country. |
Visit the provincial government website for more information on both the Smoke Free Environment Act 2005 and the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act. Visit the federal government website for information on federal tobacco laws.
Smoke-Free Environments
You cannot smoke in indoor public spaces. The rules for public outdoor spaces depend on the place. Some organizations like schools or healthcare providers have created policies that ban smoking anywhere on their property. Eastern Health is one of those organizations. Find the Eastern Health policy here: Smoke-Free Environment policy, Eastern Health.
To date, close to 90 towns and cities (with about 73 per cent of the province’s population) in Newfoundland and Labrador have policies to restrict smoking in outdoor municipal sports and recreation spaces. The work is continuing.
Stopping the use of tobacco in places where children are will help stop children from starting to smoke.
In addition to provincial legislation, Newfoundland and Labrador has a provincial Tobacco and Vaping Reduction Strategy. Visit the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco website to learn more about the strategy and how you and your community can move toward a smoke-free policy.
Services related to this information:
- 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555
- NL Smokers’ Helpline