Year-by-Year Timeline of Federal Tobacco Laws
Key takeaways
Federal tobacco law started with two statutes in 1988, was replaced by the Tobacco Act on 25 April 1997 and became the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act on 23 May 2018. Since then regulations have set plain packaging, a 20 mg/mL nicotine cap (8 July 2021) and warnings on individual cigarettes (1 August 2023). The third legislative review was tabled on 20 May 2026.
Federal tobacco law in Canada runs through two statutes, the Non-smokers’ Health Act of 1988 and the Tobacco Act of 1997 (now the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act), plus the regulations that fill them in. Below is every step we could date from Justice Laws, the Canada Gazette, the Library of Parliament and Health Canada. For the court cases and the wider story, see the history of tobacco control in Canada.
What happened in each year?
| Year | Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | year only | Bill C-51 passes and becomes the Tobacco Products Control Act, authorizing a total advertising ban and stronger package warnings | Library of Parliament |
| 1988 | 28 June | Non-smokers’ Health Act assented to; regulates smoking in federal workplaces and on certain transport | Justice Laws |
| 1989 | 29 December | Non-smokers’ Health Act comes into force | Justice Laws |
| 1993 | March | Tobacco Sales to Young Persons Act receives Royal Assent; minimum age rises from 16 to 18, with fines up to $50,000 for sellers | Library of Parliament |
| 1994 | February | That Act comes into force | Library of Parliament |
| 1995 | September | Supreme Court of Canada strikes down most advertising and promotion bans by 5-4, upholds the ban on free distribution | Library of Parliament |
| 1997 | 25 April | Tobacco Act receives Royal Assent, replacing the 1993 Act | Library of Parliament |
| 1998 | 1 October | Sponsorship sections of the Tobacco Act (24(2), 24(3)) come into force | Library of Parliament |
| 2004 | year only | Canada becomes a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (adopted 2003) | Health Canada |
| 2018 | 23 May | Tobacco Act amended and renamed Tobacco and Vaping Products Act; adds vaping rules, menthol and cloves as prohibited additives | Justice Laws |
| 2019 | 24 April | Plain and Standardized Appearance regulations registered (SOR/2019-107) | Canada Gazette |
| 2019 | 9 November | Provisions of the 2018 amending Act listed as in force | Justice Laws |
| 2020 | 9 November | Amendment SOR/2019-108 in force | Justice Laws |
| 2021 | 8 July | Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations in force; 20 mg/mL cap | Justice Laws |
| 2023 | 14 January | 2022, c. 17 amendment in force | Justice Laws |
| 2023 | 1 August | Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations in force; SOR/2023-98 amendment also dated this day | Health Canada; Justice Laws |
| 2024 | 17 June | Second legislative review report published | Health Canada |
| 2024 | 20 June | Amendments 2024, c. 15 and 2024, c. 17 in force | Justice Laws |
| 2024 | end of July | King size cigarettes must carry warnings printed on each cigarette | Health Canada |
| 2025 | 7 March | Tobacco Charges Regulations (cost recovery) announced | Health Canada |
| 2025 | end of April | Regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper and tubes must carry warnings | Health Canada |
| 2026 | 20 May | Third legislative review tabled in Parliament | Health Canada |
The 1988 Act’s advertising ban is the one the Supreme Court weakened in 1995; the 1997 Act then replaced the 1993 youth-sales law. The 1993 change from age 16 to 18 for buying tobacco was federal; provinces have since set their own, higher ages, listed in our provincial rules data.
How did the 2018 amendments change things?
Bill S-5 added a vaping Part to the Act covering product standards, flavour and ingredient bans, sales to young persons, labelling and promotion, and extended the Non-smokers’ Health Act to vaping in federal workplaces and on certain transport. It also gave inspectors remote-access powers and widened offences. Most detail then moved into regulations, which is why the later rows are mostly SORs. The explanation of how plain packaging works is on the plain packaging page.
Which law is in force today?
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (S.C. 1997, c. 13), which Justice Laws shows as current to 30 September 2026 and last amended on 20 June 2024. The Non-smokers’ Health Act remains in force as well; its last amendment was dated 17 October 2018. The federal government has proposed to move the legislative review cycle from two years to five. Where we show only a year, the source gives only a year.
Where do I find newer changes?
Our law changes log tracks dated changes as they happen, and federal smoking laws in Canada explains what the current Act requires. What the Act says about traditional tobacco is in commercial and traditional tobacco.
Legal information only, not legal advice. Laws and bylaws change; confirm the current text in the official source before you rely on it. Read the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
When did Canada's first federal tobacco control laws pass?
In 1988 Parliament passed the Tobacco Products Control Act, which authorized a total advertising ban, and the Non-smokers' Health Act, assented to on 28 June 1988 and in force on 29 December 1989.
When did the Tobacco Act become the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act?
On 23 May 2018, when An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers' Health Act (S.C. 2018, c. 9) received assent and renamed the Act.
What is the current federal law?
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (S.C. 1997, c. 13). Justice Laws shows it current to 30 September 2026 and last amended on 20 June 2024.
When did warnings on individual cigarettes start?
The regulations took effect on 1 August 2023. King size cigarettes had to carry them by the end of July 2024, and regular size cigarettes by the end of April 2025.
Sources
- Tobacco: legislation (PRB 98-8) — Library of Parliament. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Non-smokers' Health Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 15 (4th Supp.)), full text — Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (S.C. 1997, c. 13) — Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers' Health Act (S.C. 2018, c. 9) — Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance), SOR/2019-107 — Canada Gazette (Government of Canada). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations (SOR/2021-123) — Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Canada to become first country in the world to require health warnings on individual cigarettes — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Report of the Second Legislative Review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Government of Canada shares results from third Tobacco and Vaping Products Act legislative review — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.