Irish health minister releases details of tough new tobacco laws 

The consultation, titled “Public Consultation on Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products,” took place from November to January and gathered opinions on various topics, including the regulation of flavours, packaging, appearance, and point-of-sale advertising for nicotine-inhaling products.

When introducing the findings of the report, Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “We know that there is strong public support for further action on tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products.

It is my intention to introduce legislation to regulate the display and advertisement of vapes in shops, the packaging and appearance of the products and the flavours of vape liquids. I will also ban single-use vapes, which are detrimental to the health of our young people and our environment.

Additionally, he announced plans to prohibit single-use vapes due to their harmful effects on both young people’s health and the environment.

Donnelly also noted that his office has already taken steps in this direction with the enactment of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023. This legislation includes measures such as banning the sale of vapes to individuals under 18 and establishing a new licensing system.

The enforcement of tobacco regulations remains a politically sensitive issue, as the tobacco industry and regulatory authorities view the policing of nicotine and vaping products as a weak link, primarily due to insufficient funding and resources allocated by governments.

This recent consultation explored measures to reduce the attractiveness of nicotine-inhaling products to young people and promote the denormalisation of smoking.

A total of 15,821 responses were received, with 90% coming from current vapers. Other respondents included academic institutions, consumer advocacy groups, and companies involved in the production and distribution of nicotine-inhaling and tobacco products.

The findings revealed broad support from health organisations, healthcare professionals, teachers, and non-vapers for all proposed interventions.

While there was general agreement among respondents on regulating point-of-sale displays and the packaging and appearance of nicotine-inhaling products, opinions varied regarding other measures, particularly among vapers, the tobacco and vaping industries, and retailers, as there is an ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of flavours.

Many vapers and industry representatives argued that flavours are crucial for adults using nicotine-inhaling products to quit smoking. However, recent research from University College London suggests that vapers may experience similar DNA changes to those seen in smokers who develop cancer.