New legislation to oblige newsagents to hide vapes in same way they do for tobacco
Newsagents will be obliged to hide nicotine inhaling products - vapes - in the same way that they do for tobacco, under legislation being drafted by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
The bill will also introduce an advertising ban in all retail premises where nicotine inhaling products are sold.
Minister of State John Cummins told Fine Gael Senator Mark Duffy in the Seanad today that the legislation aims to regulate the product's characteristics to reduce their appeal to young people.
Accordingly, it will include restrictions on the use of colours and imagery on devices and their packaging, so that any products on display are not brightly covered and covered in cartoons.
It will also include a ban on devices which resemble toys or games for the same reasons.
The bill will also significantly restrict the flavours available for sale and ensure that only basic flavour names are used.
It will also prohibit the sale of single-use vapes - something which was promised by the last Coalition - on the basis that they're disproportionately used by young people, as well as the negative environmental impacts associated with them.
Mr Duffy said he very much welcomed the outline of the legislation, adding the proliferation of vape shops in Ireland has happened very quickly and regulation needs to catch up.
He said young people needed to be protected, and that included removing product placements in shops which encouraged sales.
He contended that the association of vapes with candy and sweets "is a cynical move to get them hooked."
Mr Duffy claimed that younger and vulnerable people were being targetted by vape companies and the variety of different flavours and coloured products was aimed at making them as attractive as possible.
Mr Cummins said that the Public Health Act of 2023 brought in a minimum age of sale of 18 for nicotine inhaling products, and will introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.
He said currently there is a one-off registration system for tobacco but no registration system for the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes.
The minister said this had led to vapes being sold in the likes of sweet shops, butchers, phone repair shots and fast-food takeaways.
He said the Government would continue to act, saying the Coalition is committed to achieving a target of less than 5% of the population smoking.
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