189. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on planned legislation that will prohibit the sale of flavoured nicotine inhaling devices (vapes) and disposable nicotine inhaling devices, as well as restricting packaging of such devices. [60345/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: Legislation is being drafted to further regulate nicotine inhaling products and single use vapes.

The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill will ban the sale of all single-use vapes.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will restrict the colours and imagery on the packaging of nicotine inhaling products and on the devices themselves. It will ban devices resembling or functioning as other products such as toys or games. It will restrict the flavours for sale and prohibit all flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names. Finally, it will ban the point-of-sale display in shops other than specialist shops, and advertising of these products in all shops.

Drafting of both Bills is now at an advanced stage. Once finalised, the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill will require notification at EU level for assessment under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535) and the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU). The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will also require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive.