As part of The Vaping Products Labelling and Packaging Regulations (VPLPR), there are certain legal requirements for how vape products are packaged in Canada. In addition to the labelling requirement outlined in Part I and supported by the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA), the VPLPR also requires vape products to adhere to specific child-resistant container (CRC) guidelines, reinforced by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA)

According to a study from Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 53% of vape-related hospitalizations between 2011 and 2019 were of children who were 5 years old and younger. These requirements are in place to protect children from accidental ingestion or other potentially harmful exposure such as contact with the eyes. 

What Are CRC Requirements in Canada?

There are two categories of devices that are subject to the CRC requirements laid down in the VPLPR. Under Part II of the VPLPR, all e-liquid refills that contain more than a 0.1 mg/mL concentration of nicotine as well as all vaping devices with refillable vape tanks and open pod systems need to have certain child-resistant features to prevent accidental contact with e-liquids by children.

In order to meet the requirements for CRC Certification, child-resistant barriers must be in place on all refillable vape products to prevent access to any part of the vape device that holds e-liquid including tanks, open pod systems, refillable cartridges, and even coils and atomizers. Closed-system vape products like disposables, pre-filled pods and cartridges, and press-to-fill devices already present as child-resistant in their core design, but even these must be CRC Compliant in order to be sold on the Canadian market.

What Vape Retailers Need to Know

For the most part, the CRC requirements laid out in the VPLPR will have the greatest impact on manufacturers and importers. People who own vape shops should already be working with reputable vape wholesalers in Canada who are up to date on all the latest requirements from Health Canada and the Canadian Government. 

Shop owners need only to make sure that they have removed any older items that are not CRC compliant from their shelves, but there was an adequate amount of time between the announcement of these safety, packaging, and labelling regulations and their implementation that, by this point, all of the products that you are receiving from a trusted Canadian vape wholesale company should be CRC compliant or certified. If you are working with a wholesaler outside of Canada and importing products yourself or through a 3rd party importer, the responsibility of verifying all products are compliant with Canada’s regulations falls on you. This is why it is essential to source your vape products from a Canadian vape wholesale expert like Valor Distributions. 

For vape retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers alike, Health Canada will regularly conduct site visits to ensure compliant vaping practices are in place. Even if a site visit is scheduled to specifically inspect one aspect of your business, Health Canada will still be on the lookout for issues of noncompliance elsewhere. Because of this, it is important to ensure that you are following all of the regulations set out in the TVPA and VPLPR. 

An issue of noncompliance can result in enforcement actions on the part of Health Canada. These actions can range from a recall alongside a commitment by the non-compliant party to correct the issue in a set amount of time to product seizure and removal from the market, and even criminal prosecution. To avoid these actions, members of the Canadian vaping industry need to be diligent when it comes to issues of compliance. As a vape shop owner, there’s no easier way to do this than to partner with a reputable Canadian vape wholesaler like Valor Distributions.

Vape Hardware from Valor Distributions

When you shop for wholesale vapes in Canada with Valor Distributions, you can be sure that every product you receive meets the most up-to-date standards and regulations in Canada and is in full compliance with the requirements of Health Canada, including CRC safety guidelines. 

Working with a Canadian vape wholesaler means you never have to worry about long shipping times or packages getting caught up in long waits at customs. We handle all of the importing, duties, taxes, and regulatory paperwork so you can place your order with the peace of mind that comes from working with industry experts. Place your first order today with no minimum amount required on any order and see for yourself what a difference the Valor experience makes.