E-cigarette regulations proposed by Montreal public health

Montreal public health is calling for more regulations surrounding e-cigarettes.

The agency has released five different recommendations for law makers.

E-cigarettes, which are unregulated in Canada, are increasingly popular among smokers trying to quit.

But critics say the lack of control mean that e-cigarettes risk introducing a new generation of young people to smoking, when little is known about the long-term health impact of the products.

The recommended sanctions include:

Marketing e-cigarettes as a Canadian tobacco product.

Set standards for minimum quality to make the cigarettes as safe as possible.

Making e-cigarettes subject to the Tobacco Act, adding limitations for advertising and sponsorship.

Only recommending e-cigarettes as an aid for quitting smoking under the supervision of a doctor.

Making e-cigarettes available for smokers trying to quit before making them available to everyone else in Canada.

Executive director of Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada Cynthia Callard said the recommendations are in line with many of their concerns.

"The potential benefits of these products, that I think are widely acknowledged, are not realized and the downfalls are exacerbated. It's just a poor strategy," she said.

She said e-cigarettes are a real option for people who want to stop smoking, but more needs to be done to prevent them from drawing in non-smokers.