G/TBT/N/CAN/557  
 
26 June 2018  
(18-4034) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member: CANADA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible: Health Canada  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Canada's SPS & TBT Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Global Affairs Canada  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Telephone: (343) 203 -4273 
Fax: (613) 943 -0346 
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. I CS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Tobacco 
products (ICS: 65.160)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Tobacco Products 
Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance); an Order to amend Schedule 1 to  the 
Tobacco and Vaping Products Act with respect to colouring agents; and, consequential 
amendments to the Tobacco Products Information Regulations (TPIR) and Tobacco 
Products Labelling Regulations (TPLR). (33 pages, available in English and French)    
6. Description of content: This proposal includes the creation of the Tobacco Products 
Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance) (PSA) (hereafter referred to as the 
'Regulations'). The proposed Regulations include measuresthat would standardize the 
appearance of tobacco product packages, as well as the appearance of the tobacco 
products themselves, including the information on tobacco packages and tobacco products. 
Brand colours, logos and other images would no longer be permitted. This proposal also 
includes a new Order to amend Schedule 1 to the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act in 
order to align the ban on the use of colouring agents with the proposed Regulations and 
also includes consequential amendments to the Tobacco Products Information Regulations 
(TPIR)and the Tobacco Products Labelling Regulations (TPLR) (Cigarettes and Little Cigars) . 
The measures proposed for tobacco packages include:  
 Standardize tobacco product package’s overall appearance (e.g. no bevelled edge, 
embossing, raised lettering, foi l stamping and other distinct visual or tactile 
features on the exterior or interior surfaces of tobacco product packages);  
 Standardize the shape and specify the dimensions for cigarette packages (to only 
slide and shell format);  G/TBT/N/CAN/557  
 
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   Require a single ordinary colour (Pantone 448C – a matte, dark, drab brown) on all 
interior and exterior surfaces of tobacco product packages;  
 Authorize the display of a brand name on the package, in a standard font style 
(Lucida Sans Serif), size, colour (Pantone Cool Gray 2C) and  location;  
 Prohibit the use of colour or filter technology in the brand name;  
 Require a standard font style (Lucida Sans Serif), size and colour (Pantone Cool 
Gray 2C) for permitted information displayed on packages (e.g. name and address 
of the manufacturer, net quantity and common name of the product);  
 Specify requirements for little cigar and cigar packages; and,  
 Require plain and standardized packaging for cigarette cases/bags furnished by a 
tobacco manufacturer.  
The measures proposed for the appearance of tobacco products include:  
 Standardize the appearance by only allowing the use of standard colours for 
cigarettes and other products that can be coloured (including: cigarettes, tubes 
and a tobacco product that is intended for use with a devic e (e.g. white or Pantone 
448C with a matte finish);  
 Allow the display of an alphanumeric code on the tobacco product (e.g. cigarettes, 
little cigars, cigars and tobacco products made in whole or in part of tobacco, 
wrapped in paper and intended for use wit h a device) and standardize its colour, 
font style, size, letter combination and placement ;  
 Authorize the display of a standardized brand name on cigar bands in consideration 
of the fact that these tobacco products are sold or designed to be carried aroun d 
unpackaged;  
 Require standard colour and prohibit apparent designs (e.g. grooves, hole or 
recess) on visible parts of cigarette filters;  
 Require cigarettes to be one of two standard lengths, reflecting regular and king 
size cigarettes; and,  
 Require a stan dard diameter for cigarettes and little cigars.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
Canada Gazette, Part I, June 23, 2018 (available in English and French)  
Note that Bill S -5, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non -smokers' Health Act and to 
make consequential amendments to other Acts, was notified under G/TBT/N/CAN/513.   
9. Proposed date of adoption: Registration of the Orders in Council is expected in 2019.  
Proposed date of entry into force: The proposed Regulations and the Order will come 
into force on the 180th day after the day on which they are published in the Canada 
Gazette, Part II.  
10. Final date for comments: 24 August 2018  G/TBT/N/CAN/557  
 
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  11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
The electronic versions of the regulatory texts can be downloaded at:  
 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp -pr/p1/2018/2018 -06-23/html/reg9 -eng.html  (English)  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp -pr/p1/2018/2018 -06-23/html/reg9 -fra.html  (French)  
 
http://www.gazette.gc. ca/rp-pr/p1/2018/2018 -06-23/html/reg10 -eng.html  (English)  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp -pr/p1/2018/2018 -06-23/html/reg10 -fra.html  (French)