Ireland’s government has approved new legislation that would tighten rules on vapes and introduce regulation of nicotine pouches, as ministers push ahead with a broader package of nicotine controls.
The proposed Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 has been approved for publication and will now move forward in the legislative process.
Announced by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, the bill aims to further regulate nicotine inhaling products while also introducing new measures covering emerging nicotine products such as pouches.
The legislation would introduce several new restrictions across the market, including to:
- Prohibit the sale of nicotine consumption products such as pouches to people under 18
- Ban the advertising of nicotine inhaling products and other nicotine consumption products in retail outlets
- Prohibit point-of-sale displays in mixed retail outlets
- Restrict colours and imagery on devices and packaging
- Prohibit devices resembling or functioning as toys or games
- Ban flavour descriptors beyond basic flavour names
- Limit flavours in nicotine inhaling products to tobacco
The government says the legislation is designed to cover both current products and future nicotine products that may emerge.
“The inclusion of legislation on novel nicotine products is designed to be future proofed; it will apply not only to products currently on the market but also any new nicotine products that emerge, ensuring that baseline measures to protect children are in place as the market evolves,” the Department of Health said.
Measures will ‘reduce appeal and visibility’
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the bill expands Ireland’s existing nicotine control framework.
“This Bill will enhance and expand existing legislation on nicotine inhaling products by reducing their appeal, visibility and accessibility,” she said. It will also prohibit the sale of current and future recreational nicotine products to minors and reduce their visibility in retail outlets.”
She added that the legislation forms part of a wider strategy to limit promotion and availability of nicotine products.
“Together these laws represent a comprehensive package to limit the promotion and sale of these addictive products. They also illustrate Ireland’s continuing leadership on tobacco and nicotine control, as part of efforts to support and protect our population to live healthier lives.”
Focus on emerging products such as pouches
Public Health Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said the bill is intended to address newer nicotine products entering the market.
“I welcome the approval of Government to bring these important public health measures forward for enactment,” she said. “I particularly welcome the approach taken to address new products such as nicotine pouches which will ensure that [a] new law to protect our children does not have to be developed each time a new product comes onto the market.”
She also warned about what the government sees as increasing marketing pressure.
“We are dealing with an increasingly aggressive industry marketing attractively packaged addictive products that appeal to children. We are responding strongly with measures that will protect our young people against current and future threats.”
Part of wider nicotine crackdown
The new amendment bill sits alongside other measures already moving through Ireland’s parliament.
“This Bill complements the legislation already underway to ban single-use vapes, and I am very pleased to be bringing the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill through the Committee and all remaining Stages in the Dáil this evening,” Murnane O’Connor said.
She added: “I look forward to working with Minister Carroll MacNeill to bring these measures into operation as soon as possible.”
If passed, the legislation would mark one of the most comprehensive updates to Ireland’s nicotine rules in recent years, extending regulation beyond vapes to cover newer nicotine products such as pouches and future alternatives entering the market.
The legislation also comes amid wider debate over nicotine regulation in Europe, after the head of the World Health Organisation urged Ireland to push for tighter EU rules on vapes and nicotine pouches during its upcoming EU presidency.
