Ireland to tighten tobacco and e-cigarette regulations: public consultation

According to Euractiv's report on August 31st, Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the results of a public consultation aimed at evaluating the implementation of new, stricter tobacco and e-cigarette regulations.

The public consultation on further regulating tobacco and nicotine inhalation products was conducted from November of last year (2023) to January of this year (2024). It aimed to gather opinions on flavorings, packaging, appearance, and advertising at points of sale for nicotine inhalation products.

During the press conference, the minister stated, "We are aware that the public strongly supports further action to regulate tobacco and nicotine inhalation products.

I plan to legislate to regulate the display and advertising of e-cigarettes in stores, the packaging and appearance of products, and the flavors of e-cigarette liquid. I will also ban disposable e-cigarettes, as they are harmful to both young people and the environment.

He explained that he has passed the 2023 Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhalation Products) Act, which includes a ban on selling e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years old and the introduction of a new licensing system.

In addition, a spokesperson from the Department of Health (DoH) told Euractiv that the consultation also discussed issues related to purchasing these products through proxies, expanding smoke-free restrictions to include e-cigarettes, smoking behavior in outdoor dining areas, and raising the legal age for tobacco sales.

At the request of the Minister of Finance, the issue of taxing e-cigarette liquid has also been included.

The consultation received a total of 15,821 responses, with 90% coming from current e-cigarette users. The remaining feedback came from academia, consumer advocacy organizations, and companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of nicotine inhalation products and tobacco products.

Survey results show that health organizations, medical professionals, teachers, and non e-cigarette users strongly support all possible intervention measures, emphasizing the importance of protecting children and the uncertainty of the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. Most respondents expressed support for regulations on point-of-sale displays and the packaging and appearance of nicotine inhalation products. However, opinions among e-cigarette users, the tobacco and e-cigarette industry, and retailers are divided on other measures, especially regarding flavor issues.