Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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734. To ask the Minister for Health if a ban on flavours, other than tobacco, will be included in the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59513/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There has been an EU wide ban on flavoured tobacco cigarettes since 20 May 2016 under the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU). The exception to this deadline was the case of products with more than a 3% market share, such as menthol flavoured cigarettes. In the case of those products, the ban came into effect on 20 May 2020.

A ban on flavours in relation to nicotine inhaling products is not included in the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill.

The Tobacco Products Directive already heavily regulates nicotine inhaling products and the Bill will prohibit their sale to persons under 18 and introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of nicotine inhaling products. In addition. on 22 November this year, Government approval was received to add further measures on nicotine inhaling products to the Bill. Under the new proposals, the sale of nicotine inhaling products will be prohibited from self-service vending machines, from temporary or mobile premises and at places or events for children. In addition, advertisements for nicotine inhaling products will be prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and near schools.