Senate passes bill banning flavoured tobacco

Flavoured-tobacco controls are one step closer to becoming law.

The Senate has passed a bill that would ban flavours and additives in cigars and cigarettes.

Bill C-32, also known as the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, would ban all flavours and additives in tobacco products except for menthol.

The government says tobacco companies add fruit flavours and vitamins, sugar and other additives that taste like candy to little cigars, called cigarillos, to mask the tobacco's harshness and appeal to kids.

The legislation unanimously passed the House of Commons in June with the support of all three opposition parties.

But the Quebec Conservative caucus, led by former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier, deemed the legislation too broad.

They said the bill, as is, would ban hundreds of other ingredients, including some used to make American blended cigarettes that contain burley tobacco.

But the Quebec Tories apparently changed their tune last week after a closed-door caucus meeting with Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.