Backgrounder: Position "Light" and "Mild" (September 4, 2001)
NOTICE
The purpose of this Backgrounder, written in 2001, is to provide the reader with all the information gathered by Imperial Tobacco Canada concerning the debate on the "Light" and "Mild" issue and remitted to the then federal Minister of Health Allan Rock by Imperial Tobacco Canada through meetings with his officials at Health Canada.
This 2001 Backgrounder also seeks to present all relevant facts surrounding the debate in order that the reader may gain a complete understanding of the issues and of Imperial Tobacco Canada's response to Allan Rock's request.
Imperial Tobacco Canada also reiterates the following points in relation to the information contained herein, all of which were communicated to Allan Rock through Imperial Tobacco Canada's cooperation with Health Canada:
1. All cigarettes, low tar or high tar, are hazardous to the health of smokers.
2.There is a growing body of scientific evidence that demonstrates that lower tar cigarettes are less risky, statistically, to the health of the overall smoking population.
3.This does not imply that smoking lower tar cigarettes is less risky to the health of any individual smoker.
4.Nonetheless, what is important is that smokers have the means to readily navigate the strength spectrum of cigarettes, whether it be the present descriptors or another system.
To learn more about Imperial Tobacco Canada's position on the issue of "Light" and "Mild" cigarettes, the following documents may be consulted:
- Letter from Robert L. Bexon, President and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Canada, to the then Minister of Health Allan Rock.
- The Canadian Government and "Light" Cigarettes.
- The Effect of Tar Reduction and the Implication for Light/Mild Qualifiers.
Imperial Tobacco Canada's comments on "Light" and "Mild" descriptors
- Click here to consult our most recent position sent to the government on January 14, 2002, regarding "Light" and "Mild" descriptors.