Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced the banning of the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to children. <\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly had secured cabinet approval earlier this year and the law will prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes (commonly referred to as vapes) to persons under 18. <\/p>\n
The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill comes into effect from Friday 22 December 2023. <\/p>\n
Under the new law, it is an offence to sell a nicotine inhaling product to a child. <\/p>\n
The offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to 4,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months. <\/p>\n
The legislation also contains other wide-ranging measures to tackle smoking and vaping among children and adults. <\/p>\n
These measures include, in addition to the ban, the prohibition of selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products at events to children. <\/p>\n
Advertising of nicotine inhaling products around schools and on public transport will also be banned and there will be a stricter licensing system put in place for the retail sale of these products. <\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly reacting to the announcement said: \"I committed to bringing this ban on the sale of vaping products to under 18s into law before Christmas and I am pleased that I have been able to do that by signing the commencement order\". <\/p>\n
\"I thank colleagues in both Houses of the Oireachtas who understood the urgency for our children and who supported me to get this law enacted quickly,\" he added. <\/p>\n
In November, Mr Donnelly and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton launched a public consultation into future regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products such as vapes. <\/p>\n
Ms Naughton said the ban on e-cigarettes was a good beginning. <\/p>\n
\"I look forward to the results of our public consultation on the options for the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products, particularly around flavourings and packaging\". <\/p>\n
\"We know that young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke, so it is important that they are not drawn to these products,\" Ms Naughton added. <\/p>\n
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Government bans sale of vaping products to under 18s - RTE.ie<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced the banning of the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to children. Continue reading