Health Minister urges NI public to shape new vaping regulations
Date published:
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is encouraging the public in Northern Ireland to respond to a UK-wide consultation to restrict vaping and nicotine product packaging, displays, appearance and flavour descriptions.
The consultation is part of the implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act (TAVA), which passed into law on 29th April. It is a public health milestone, which will address the increasing use of vapes by children and young people. From 29th October, TAVA will prevent the sale of all vapes (including non-nicotine) and other nicotine products, to anyone under 18.
TAVA also provides powers to regulate flavours, packaging and product displays, all of which will contribute to making these products less appealing and attractive to young people.
The consultation is seeking the public’s views on introducing plain packaging, restrictions on flavour descriptions and keeping vapes out of sight in shops.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:
“The Tobacco and Vapes Act is a landmark piece of UK-wide legislation, which will undoubtedly save lives and prevent further harm from diseases, such as cancer.
“In NI, 15% of all 11-18-year-olds vape, with 65% of those saying they vape daily. Evidence shows that a major factor in the growth of youth vaping is the way the products are displayed in shops, sometimes even alongside confectionery.
“Restricting the visibility of these products will lessen their appeal to children and young people, which in turn will reduce youth vaping and prevent future generations from nicotine addiction.
“Following public consultation, I intend to make regulations for Northern Ireland to restrict the display of vaping and nicotine products, which may include storing products out of sight, such as behind the counter or in closed cabinets.
“It is vital that we get the views from the public on the future of displaying and packaging of these products. I would encourage everyone to take the time to respond to this consultation.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride also encourages an NI response to the public consultation. He added: “The display of nicotine products undoubtedly encourages young people to purchase these types of products. Nicotine addiction can have lifelong consequences on children, including brain development issues, leading to learning and mental health disorders.
“Vapes can be a useful tool to help adult smokers quit, but they are not risk free and should never be used by children. We must protect future generations from serious harm. The Tobacco and Vapes Act will go a long way in addressing these issues, and we really want to hear from the public in NI. Please take part in the consultation and share your views; this will help shape future health policy.”
The consultation seeks views on proposals for vapes and nicotine products including:
- Introducing plain white packaging with restrictions on text colour, imagery, limited branding and standardised safety information
- Restricting flavour names to only simple recognisable descriptions (e.g. “Apple”), banning concept and sensory names as well as names relating to confectionery, sweets, desserts and alcohol
- Mandating manufacturers of vape devices to make them white, black or grey, with no images, limited branding, no cosmetic lights and screens only displaying safety information (e.g. battery level)
- Restrict shop displays in the same way as tobacco products.
Part 3 of TAVA provides power to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to make regulations concerning the display of tobacco, vaping and related products.
Subject to the outcome of this consultation, the Secretary of State for Health will then use powers under Part 5 of TAVA to make regulations on packaging and devices.
Notes to editors:
1. The UK-wide consultation is available here: Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display - GOV.UK
2. Further measures in the proposals for tobacco products include:
- Extending existing plain packaging requirements and health warnings for cigarettes across all tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers and heated tobacco devices.
- Introducing positive quit-support messages inside all tobacco products, including cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco, herbal smoking products and heated tobacco devices
- Extending existing tobacco display restrictions to all tobacco related products, cigarette papers, herbal smoking products
- Removing an existing display exemption for bulk tobacconists, including duty-free shops and airports, meaning that tobacco products would be restricted from display in these settings
- Restricting heated tobacco devices to a drab brown colour the same as tobacco packaging, with no images, limited branding, no cosmetic lights and screens only displaying safety information (e.g. battery level).
3. The statistic ‘15% of all 11-18 year olds vape’ comes from the PHA research into Youth Vaping in NI [ https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2025-05/Behavioural%20Insights%20into%20Youth%20Vaping%20in%20NI_0.pdf]
4. The Tobacco and Vapes Act received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026. Please see previous press release here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-nesbitt-welcomes-landmark-tobacco-and-vapes-act
5. Additional information on the Act in Northern Ireland, including timelines and Q&As is available here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/tobacco-and-vapes-act-documents
6. Tobacco products include: cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco, waterpipe tobacco (e.g shisha), nasal tobacco (snuff), chewing tobacco, heated tobacco, blunts. Cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco are already covered by plain packaging legislation and will have pack inserts introduced in due course. The consultation will cover all tobacco products, meaning it is futureproofed for any tobacco new product that is developed.
7. Proposed plain packaging legislation in line with existing cigarette packaging is for all tobacco products, herbal smoking products, heated tobacco devices & cigarette papers. Proposed quit-themed pack inserts for all tobacco products, herbal smoking products and heated tobacco devices but not cigarette papers due to their small size.
8. The Tobacco and Vapes Act includes provisions under Part 3 that provide powers to the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) to regulate the display of vaping and nicotine products by introducing new restrictions on where tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, and their prices, can be displayed in retail settings. Part 3 includes a statutory requirement to consult prior to making regulations to regulate displays.
9. From 29th October 2026 the current Tobacco Retail Register will be extended to include businesses that sell vapes and other nicotine products.
10. From 29th October 2026, it will be a criminal offence to sell tobacco, vapes or nicotine products if not registered and, in cases of persistent offending, a Restricted Premises or Restricted Sale Order may be issued.
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