We're moving content over from an older government website. We'll align this page with the ontario.ca style guide in future updates.
Temporary prohibition of selling, offering for sale and storing tobacco products
- This page will be of interest to tobacco retail dealers and wholesalers.
- This page provides information about a program to temporarily prohibit the selling, offering for sale and storing of tobacco product at a retail location where a retail dealer has repeatedly contravened the Tobacco Tax Act and/or the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Wholesalers are also prohibited from delivering, or causing to be delivered, tobacco product to locations that are under a temporary prohibition.
- This page provides general information. It is not exhaustive and should not be considered as a substitute for the Tobacco Tax Act and its regulations.
Background
Tobacco Tax Act Prohibition
The Tobacco Tax Act (Act), Temporary Prohibition Program prohibits all persons from selling, offering for sale and storing tobacco product at a location where a retail dealer has repeatedly contravened the Act and/or committed certain offences under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The length of the prohibition may range up to 180 days.
Retail dealers are advised to review both the Tobacco Tax Act and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to understand the specific offences that may result in a prohibition.
Tobacco Tax Act Contraventions
A person who contravenes the Act may be subject to a penalty. Contraventions may also result in a person being charged with an offence which, upon conviction, may result in fines and/or imprisonment. Additionally, tobacco product that relates to a contravention or any item or thing used or acquired in a contravention may be seized and forfeited. The following are a few examples of contraventions of the Tobacco Tax Act:
- selling or storing unmarked cigarettes (i.e. packages that do not have Ontario's yellow stamp and other required markings)
- purchasing tobacco product from wholesalers not registered under the Act, or
- the failure to provide evidence of proper payment of Ontario's tobacco tax.
Smoke-Free Ontario Act
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act is administered by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Certain offences under that act are also "tobacco offences" for the purposes of the Temporary Prohibition Program. Specifically:
- selling tobacco product to a person under 19 years of age
- selling cigarettes in packages that do not have the required health warnings
- selling cigarettes or cigarillos in packages of less than 20 or
- failing to post the required health warning and age limit signs.
Terms of a Temporary Prohibition
The minister may prohibit the selling, offering for sale and storage of tobacco products for repeated contraventions of the Act. A prohibition bars selling, offering for sale and storing tobacco products in a particular location for up to 180 days.
There are also prohibitions under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The length of prohibitions in that act range from six to twelve months.
Basis for a Temporary Prohibition
Tobacco retail dealers may face a temporary prohibition if, within a five-year period, the retail dealer has been:
- assessed two or more penalties under the Act
- convicted of two or more tobacco offences, or
- both assessed a penalty and convicted of a tobacco offence,
and the respective penalties and convictions relate to activities at, or in connection with, the particular location owned or occupied by a retail dealer.
Imposition of Prohibition
Duration of Prohibition
The duration of a temporary prohibition will depend on the number and nature of previous contraventions within a five-year period. The duration of the prohibition increases in stages, as shown in the following chart.
Determining Prohibition Period
| If there is a current contravention subject to: | And over the past 5 years, contraventions include: | A temporary prohibition period may be imposed: |
|---|---|---|
| A penalty assessment | Not more than 2 penalties or 1 or more offences | Up to 15 days |
| A penalty assessment | 3 or more penalties | Up to 30 days |
| A conviction for an offence | 1 or more penalties | Up to 15 days |
| A conviction for an offence | 1 offence | Up to 30 days |
| A conviction for an offence | 2 offences | Up to 60 days |
| A conviction for an offence | 3 or more offences | Up to 180 days |
Publication of Prohibited Retail Locations
The ministry will publish the name and location of every retail dealer who is under a temporary prohibition. This information may also be disclosed to tobacco wholesalers as they are not permitted to deliver, or cause to deliver, tobacco products to locations subject to a temporary prohibition.
Prohibition Process
Notification to Retail Dealer
The minister will notify the retail dealer of a proposed temporary prohibition. A Notice of Proposed Temporary Prohibition and Request for Hearing will be delivered to the retail dealer, either by hand delivery or registered mail, prior to the imposition of the prohibition.
Hearing Following Proposed Prohibition
When a retailer receives a Notice of Proposed Temporary Prohibition and Request for Hearing, the retail dealer may request a hearing. The request, stating reasons for the objection, must be made in writing to the minister within five days of receiving the Notice of Proposed Temporary Prohibition and Request for Hearing. A hearing will be held within 15 days from the time the notice was issued. Details on how to request a hearing are set out in the instructions in the Notice of Proposed Temporary Prohibition and Request for Hearing.
Conditions and Limitations
Instead of a temporary prohibition, the minister may impose specific conditions and limitations with respect to the retail dealer's tobacco activities; however, if the retail dealer fails to comply with the conditions and limitations, an immediate prohibition may be imposed upon delivery of a Notice of Immediate Temporary Prohibition.
Hearing Following Immediate Prohibition
Within 10 days of receiving notification of an immediate prohibition, the retail dealer may request a hearing to cancel the prohibition. The request must be made in writing to the minister, stating the reasons for the objection. A hearing will be scheduled within 10 days of the minister receiving the request. Details on how to request a hearing are set out in the instructions in the Notice of Immediate Temporary Prohibition.
Wholesalers
Wholesalers may not deliver, or cause to be delivered, tobacco product to a location that is subject to a temporary prohibition. To confirm whether a retail dealer is under prohibition at a particular location, check the ministry's website. Additionally, signs will be posted at locations where a temporary prohibition is in effect.
Posting of Signs at Locations Under Prohibition
Signs Required
Where a retail dealer is under prohibition, the retail dealer must ensure signs provided by the ministry are posted at the relevant location to notify the public of the prohibition.
Not to be Removed
If the signs are not posted as required, a person authorized by the minister may enter the premises and post the prohibition signs. Signs must not be removed while the prohibition is in effect.
Offences and Penalties
Failure to Comply – Retail Dealer
Should a retail dealer fail to comply with a temporary prohibition, all tobacco products at the retail location may be seized and penalties assessed ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Additionally, the retail dealer may be charged, and if convicted, be subject to minimum fines ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the circumstances.
Failure to Comply – Wholesaler
Wholesalers must not deliver, or cause to be delivered, tobacco products to retail locations that are subject to a temporary prohibition.
If a wholesaler delivers tobacco products to a location subject to a temporary prohibition, the minister may suspend the wholesaler's permit and a penalty may be assessed equal to three times the tax that would be payable under the Act on the tobacco that was delivered plus an amount ranging from $1000 to $10,000, depending on the circumstances.
Definitions
Tobacco Product
"tobacco product" means tobacco in any form in which it is used or consumed, and includes snuff.
Additional Information
If this page does not completely address your particular situation, refer to the Act and related regulations, visit our website at ontario.ca/finance or contact:
Ministry of Finance Investigations & Inspections Branch 33 King Street West, PO Box 625 Oshawa ON L1H 8H9
- 1 866 ONT-TAXS (1 866 668-8297)
- Fax: 905 433-5680
- 1 800 263-7776 for teletypewriter (TTY)