President Signs Law Restricting Vape Packaging, Advertising and Flavour Names
New law signed to limit vape flavour names to tobacco and unflavoured. The Minister for Health will decide when it comes into force.
President Catherine Connolly has signed the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Act 2026, numbered 38 of 2026. The signing on 27 October 2026 is confirmed in the President’s official legislation register.
The Seanad passed the Bill without amendment on 21 October 2026, according to the official Oireachtas record.
The measures outlined in the Department of Health’s announcement of government approval, published on 3 March 2026, include restrictions on the colours and imagery used on vape devices and packaging. They also include a prohibition on selling devices that resemble or function as other products, including toys or games.
Advertising of vapes and nicotine consumption products in retail outlets is to be prohibited, as is the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s. Baseline protections are also to be extended to new nicotine consumption products as they emerge.
The Oireachtas Bill Digest states that permitted vape flavour names are restricted to “tobacco” and “unflavoured”, with powers for the Minister to amend the permitted list. Point-of-sale display restrictions cover mixed retailers such as supermarkets, petrol stations and newsagents, with exemptions for specialist retailers. Advertising restrictions also cover websites selling the products.
The Department of Health says the aim is to reduce young people’s exposure to nicotine products, while protecting children against existing and emerging nicotine products.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health:
“This Bill will enhance and expand existing legislation on nicotine inhaling products by reducing their appeal, visibility and accessibility.”
Signing the Act does not mean every restriction applies immediately. During the Seanad debate on 21 October 2026, Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said the Government wanted the prohibition on selling nicotine pouches and other covered products to under-18s introduced quickly. She said other measures would have a lead-in period, to be determined by the Minister for Health.
Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy:
“The Minister for Health will then decide on a lead-in period of perhaps six or 12 months.”
The official Seanad debate record does not confirm a fixed commencement date. In the same debate, the Minister of State explained that flavours are restricted through controls on flavour names, with ingredients discussed separately.
The separate Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Act 2026 provides for the disposable vape sales ban. In a parliamentary answer on 13 October 2026, the Minister for Health confirmed that this ban takes effect on 24 January 2027, following a six-month transition period. The answer also confirmed that sales of nicotine inhaling products to under-18s are already prohibited under 2023 legislation, as reproduced by the HRB National Drugs Library.
The Oireachtas briefing cites national research showing that 13% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported vaping within the previous 30 days.