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The Health Minister has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement that the Tobacco and Vapes Act has now handed into regulation.
The Act, which extends to Northern Ireland, will see a smoke-free technology by making it unlawful to promote tobacco to anybody born on or after 1st January 2009, taking impact from subsequent 12 months.
From twenty ninth October 2026, it should even be unlawful to promote non-nicotine vapes and different nicotine merchandise to below 18s. The laws will present new powers to cut back the hurt from second-hand smoke and improved regulation of outlets of vapes and nicotine merchandise.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt mentioned:
“Tobacco is uniquely harmful; no other consumer product kills two thirds of its users. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death, killing over 2,000 people every year in Northern Ireland. It is also a major cause of health inequalities, with the lung cancer rate in our most deprived areas two and a half times that of the least deprived.
“The Tobacco and Vapes Act is a landmark public health milestone, creating a smoke free generation for our children and young people. This significant piece of legislation will save lives and protect future generations from the harm of tobacco and nicotine addiction. This will also reduce the long-term pressure on Health and Social Care (HSC) services.”
In Northern Ireland, 15% of all 11 – 18 12 months olds vape, a pattern which Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride has known as regarding. He mentioned:
“The rise in the use of vapes among young people is concerning given the evidence of a gateway effect between vaping and subsequent cigarette use.
“Vapes carry the risk of addiction and the long-term risks will not become apparent for some time. The consumption of nicotine in children and young people can impact on brain development, leading to long-term consequences such as learning and anxiety disorders. This Act will protect our children and young people from the harm that nicotine causes.
“We also want to support those who are already dependent on nicotine. I would encourage anyone who smokes or vapes to use this opportunity to join the smoke-free generation and quit. There is no safe level of tobacco consumption, all tobacco is harmful. You can get help to stop smoking with HSC services in Community Pharmacies, GP Practices and local Trusts.”
The Department of Health will proceed to have interaction with key stakeholders, who’ve demonstrated unwavering help for the Bill and in taking motion to deal with this necessary public well being problem.
The Department of Health can even proceed to work collaboratively on a 4 nations’ foundation to implement the provisions of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, aligning insurance policies the place acceptable.
Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health on the Public Health Agency (PHA), mentioned:
“Tobacco and nicotine addiction remains a serious public health issue and concerns are also growing about the rise in vaping among young people. Evidence shows that many have never previously smoked, increasing the risk of nicotine addiction and widening future health inequalities. The PHA welcomes this important legislation, which represents a significant step forward in protecting future generations from the harms associated with tobacco and nicotine use.
“I encourage people to use this milestone public health legislation as an opportunity to take steps themselves to quit for good, and join the thousands of people across Northern Ireland who are making a positive change – improving their own health and protecting others from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. In 2024/25, a total of 9,587 people were reported to have set a quit date through PHA-funded stop smoking services in Northern Ireland.
“Nicotine harm prevention must start early and addressing this requires strong collaboration across government, health services, education, communities and families. Working in partnership, we can reduce harm, tackle health inequalities and create environments that support children and young people to grow up free from nicotine addiction.”
While adults who can legally be offered tobacco in the present day will nonetheless give you the option to take action, present grownup people who smoke are being inspired to affix the smoke-free technology and give up. The PHA commissions companies throughout Northern Ireland to help those that need to give up smoking. For native help and extra data go to: https://www.stopsmokingni.info/.
The Minister added:
“I recognise that legislation is only part of the solution. We must continue to work to identify the remaining challenges and actions to keep the momentum going to create a truly smoke-free Northern Ireland. I am committed to improving the health and quality of life for everyone in our society.”
Notes to editors:
- The statistic ‘15% of all 11-18 year olds vape’ comes from the PHA analysis into Youth Vaping in NI [https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2025-05/Behavioural%20Insights%20into%20Youth%20Vaping%20in%20NI_0.pdf]
2. The Northern Ireland Assembly voted in help of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s extension to NI by way of a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in February 2025 [https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/legislative-consent/legislative-consent-memorandums/tobacco-and-vapes-bill/]. The Bill handed the House of Lords Report stage on third March 2026, and the Third studying occurred on Monday ninth March 2026. The Bill was enacted on twenty ninth April 2026.
3. The steerage on the graduation of the Act in NI might be discovered right here: Tobacco and Vapes Bill paperwork | Department of Health and is summarised beneath:
4. From twenty ninth October (six months following Royal Assent) the next provisions in relation to Sale and Distribution will begin:
- ban on the sale of vaping or nicotine merchandise to below 18s (contains nicotine and non-nicotine vapes).
- ban on the acquisition of vaping or nicotine merchandise on behalf of somebody below 18 (proxy buy).
- extension of the tobacco merchandising machine ban to incorporate cigarette papers, vapes and different nicotine merchandise.
- ban on the free distribution and low cost of vapes and different nicotine merchandise.
5. On a day appointed by the NI Health Minister, the NI Tobacco Retailers Register will likely be prolonged to incorporate companies that promote vapes and different nicotine merchandise.
6. From 1st January 2027, nobody born on or after 1st January 2009 will be capable of purchase a tobacco product, natural smoking product or cigarette papers.
7. From 1st June 2027 extension of current tobacco promoting guidelines to incorporate cigarette papers, natural smoking merchandise, vaping merchandise and different nicotine merchandise.
8. The Bill additionally offers plenty of powers for provisions which is able to come into operation on a day appointed by the NI Health Minister, topic to public session. These embody:
- laws to increase smoke-free provisions in public outside locations (or workplaces) and to permit for laws making smoke-free locations additionally vape-free and heated tobacco-free.
- restrictions concerning shows of merchandise and costs – of tobacco merchandise, natural smoking merchandise, cigarette papers, vaping merchandise or nicotine merchandise.
- the introduction of retail licensing provisions that will likely be commenced in the long term.
9.The Bill additionally offers plenty of powers for UK-wide provisions which is able to come into operation on a day appointed by the Secretary of State for Health. These embody:
- extension of current tobacco promoting guidelines to incorporate cigarette papers, natural smoking merchandise, vaping merchandise and different nicotine merchandise.
- wider powers to permit for extra vital adjustments to the tobacco and vapes notification schemes for merchandise positioned on the UK market, to enhance client security.
- restrictions on merchandise and data necessities resembling retail packaging, options of merchandise, contents and flavours of tobacco merchandise, tobacco associated units, natural smoking merchandise, cigarette papers, filters, vaping merchandise, and nicotine merchandise.
10. The Ten-Year Tobacco Control Strategy for Northern Ireland has an total goal to create a tobacco-free society. In September 2023, a ultimate overview of the present Strategy was printed and acknowledged stakeholder help for a smoke-free goal date for Northern Ireland. Following implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill the Department will then determine the remaining challenges, which would be the focus of a successor tobacco management technique for NI, the scope of which will likely be widened to incorporate vapes and different nicotine merchandise. The present technique will proceed to supply strategic path within the meantime.
11. You can see the timing, Q&A and Factfile for extra data right here: Tobacco and Vapes Bill paperwork | Department of Health
12. For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail: [email protected]
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14. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries solely between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The obligation press officer might be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
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