Dental Health Foundation Ireland welcomes Government approval of proposals to further regulate nicotine products
The Dental Health Foundation Ireland has welcomed the Government’s approval to publish the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which will introduce further regulation of nicotine products in Ireland.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD. The Bill will now be brought forward for enactment.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen protections for children and young people by further regulating nicotine inhaling products and introducing measures to address emerging nicotine products, including nicotine pouches.
The Bill proposes to:
Prohibit the sale of nicotine consumption products, such as nicotine pouches, to those under 18.
Prohibit the advertising of nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products in all retail outlets and ban their point-of-sale display in mixed retail outlets.
Restrict colours and imagery on nicotine inhaling product devices and packaging, and prohibit the sale of devices that resemble or function as other products such as toys or games.
Prohibit flavour descriptors and marketing language other than basic flavour names for nicotine inhaling products.
Limit flavours in nicotine inhaling products to tobacco, with provision to amend this by regulation if required.
Importantly, the legislation also includes provisions to regulate novel nicotine products, ensuring it is future-proofed. This means it will apply not only to products currently on the market but also to new nicotine products that may emerge, helping to ensure baseline protections for children and young people as the market evolves.
As a member of the Tobacco Free Ireland Stakeholder Group, Dental Health Foundation Ireland welcomes these proposals as an important step in reducing the appeal and accessibility of nicotine products to young people and supporting the wider public health goal of a tobacco-free Ireland.