BC Gov News
A new proposed law will hold vaping product manufacturers and wholesalers accountable for deceptive practices that prioritize profit over people.
If passed, the vaping product damages and health care costs recovery act, introduced on Oct. 8, 2025, will enable British Columbia to take legal action against companies that cause public harm through misleading promotion of vaping products.
“Deceptive practices by vaping manufacturers are driving harmful behaviours, especially among youth, and placing growing pressure on our health-care and education systems,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “On our watch, British Columbians will not be left paying the price for corporate deception. With this legislation, B.C. is once again leading the way in protecting people and holding corporations to account, just as we did with tobacco and opioid manufacturers.”
The first-of-its-kind vaping product damages and health care costs recovery act enables, but does not require, the provincial government to take legal action to protect public health and ensure accountability from wrongdoers whose products are associated with vaping-related disease and injury.
“Students need to be supported and safe, both in and out of school, so they can make informed decisions about their health,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “We all want to keep vapes and dangerous substances out of the hands of kids, which is why today’s announcement is so important. It will hold vaping companies accountable for the harm they are causing youth and families.”
This law ensures B.C. can seek to recover public health costs where appropriate. It complements other ongoing efforts from government to raise awareness of the risks associated with vaping, including:
- public-education campaigns, such as the A to Z of Vaping initiative, which provides youth and caregivers with accurate information about vaping risks;
- QuitNow.ca, a provincial resource to help people quit smoking and vaping; and
- collaboration with other provinces and the federal government to address the complex challenges of nicotine addiction and vaping-related harms.
This legislation builds on the Province’s successful work to hold wrongdoers, such as multinational tobacco and opioid manufacturers, accountable for the harms their products cause to people. On Aug. 29, 2025, B.C. received the first payment of nearly $1 billion of the total $3.6 billion it will receive through the landmark settlement in the lawsuit against tobacco companies. Separately, the B.C. Supreme Court has certified two Canada-wide class-action lawsuits where the Province is the lead plaintiff against opioid manufacturers and distributors, and the consultancy firm McKinsey for their role in creating and spreading the opioid epidemic.
Government is also exploring creating similar legislation regarding the harm caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as “PFAs” and “forever chemicals”). The Province remains committed to holding multinationals accountable when they prioritize profit over people and to continue working on all fronts to prevent future harm.
Learn More:
To learn more about government’s anti-vaping work, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/30272
To read the Attorney General’s statement on B.C. receiving the first tobacco litigation payment, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/32718
To read the Attorney General’s statement on the B.C. Supreme Court’s decision to certify the class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31920
To learn more about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/legislation/