Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

778. To ask the Minister for Health if the RIA prepared for the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 addresses the potential economic impact that could occur if another country were to introduce plain packaging for Irish food or alcohol products in retaliation for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32980/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, a Regulatory Impact Analysis was carried out in connection with the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014, and it is now available on the Department of Health’s website at .

As part of the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) process, submissions were sought by the Department of Health from stakeholders, including the tobacco industry and retailer organisations, on the specific content of the General Scheme of the Bill, the impact of its provisions and on any omissions identified. In developing the legislation, my Department also considered the findings of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, who invited and received submissions and met with many of the key stakeholders in this regard.

As far as I am aware, plans have not been announced by any other country to introduce standardised packaging for any product other than tobacco, to date. As the Deputy will know, Australia was the first country in the world to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products, in December 2012. Since then, New Zealand has initiated the legislative process to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products. The UK is currently considering whether to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products and in the interim has notified draft regulations to the Commission under the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC).