<p>
	Details of retailers who sell cigarettes to minors will be published online</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The Department of Health is to introduce on-the-spot fines for retailers who sell cigarettes to minors, and that information will then be published online.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	New measures will also ban the sale of cigarettes from vending machines.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Following a public consultation, the department is preparing the draft heads of a Bill which will impose tougher penalties for those who sell the products illegally.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The proposed legislation will allow for the introduction of minimum suspension periods for retailers convicted of offences.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Name and shame</p>
<p>
	It will also allow for fixed penalties to be introduced and for those retailers to be &ldquo;named and shamed&rdquo;.</p>
<p>
	The proposals were first proposed by former minister for health James Reilly in 2014 but have been revisited by Minister for Health Simon Harris.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	There is also a series of measures aimed at further regulating the sale of e-cigarettes.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Licensing system</p>
<p>
	A new annual licensing system will be introduced for the sale of tobacco and related products including e-cigarettes and other non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems. This will replace the retail register currently in operation.</p>
<p>
	There will be a ban on tobacco products being sold from self-service vending machines as well as temporary or mobile units.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	A Department of Health spokeswoman said: &ldquo;Vending machines by their very presence constitute a means of advertising and promoting tobacco products.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;One of the most compelling reasons to strengthen the rules on tobacco products is the detrimental impact of tobacco consumption on people&rsquo;s health.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;In order to move closer to a tobacco-free society by 2025, it is necessary to continue to drive regulation that restricts the access and exposure of the general population to tobacco products.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;At present,&rdquo; the department spokeswoman added, &ldquo;self-service vending machines are only permitted in licensed premises and registered clubs. It is proposed to extend the existing ban on self-service vending machines for tobacco products to all locations.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The department said the proposals were in line with Government policy contained in Tobacco Free Ireland and the World Health Organisation&rsquo;s framework convention on tobacco control.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Similar measures</p>
<p>
	Fifteen European member states, including France, Greece, Hungary, Poland and the UK, have enforced similar measures prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines.</p>
<p>
	The tobacco industry took a legal challenge against such a measure in England but did not succeed.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The Government is facing its own potential challenge from the industry for its proposals to introduce plain packaging.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	However, it has still not commenced the Act to enforce the measures which ban all forms of branding such as trademarks and logos on packs of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Ireland was the first country to introduce a plan for plain packaging in 2014, but delays in developing the relevant legislation mean it will not come into effect until 2017 at the earliest.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In the meantime, Ireland has been overtaken by the UK, which followed through with its commitment to introduce plain packaging for cigarette products on May 20th.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by the Irish Times on the 16th August 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sale-of-cigarettes-from-vending-machines-set-to-be-banned-1.2757326">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sale-of-cigarettes-from-vending-machines-set-to-be-banned-1.2757326</a></p>
