Ireland will implement a new licensing system for retailers on February 2, with British American Tobacco backing the move as an effective crackdown on illegal sales, but calling for nicotine packs to be included in the legislation.
According to the magazine on January 13, Ireland will implement a new retailer licensing system from next month, aimed at cracking down on the illegal sale of vape brands. In this regard, the move will play an important role in market regulation.
The system, which comes into effect on February 2, requires retailers to pay €800 a year to sell vapes and €1,000 a year to sell cigarettes. Smoke tar bags are not covered by the legislation.
David Melinn, director of BAT Ireland, an Irish company, said,
- “We have repeatedly called for the introduction of a retail licensing system and we believe it will play an important role in enforcing the ban on the sale of vapes for under-18s and preventing the sale of illegal vape products.” However, we believe that the failure to include tobacco-free nicotine packs is an oversight and hope that the next administration will address this issue.”
Shops selling vape brands are required to join the registration system and accept that the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) renews their licenses every year in order to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, which means that once a retailer’s license is revoked, they will lose their eligibility to sell vapes.
Merlin added,
- “Most retailers operate responsibly, but we are concerned about the sale of vapes in some digital accessories and notebook repair shops.” We are finding an increasing number of shops lacking the Irish health warning for illegal vapes, which contain high levels of smoke tar. We hope this new system will weed out these illegal merchants whose actions are hurting the many legitimate and responsible vape retailers in China.”
Previously, retailers selling cigarette products only had to pay a one-time fee of 50 euros, and retailers selling vapes did not require any licensing. The new licensing regime has been adopted by statutory documents as part of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhalation Products) Act 2023.
