Disposable vapes to be banned in Ireland under new law

The sale of disposable vapes will be banned in Ireland under measures being brought to the Cabinet by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

The Minister is expected to receive an approval from the Government to draft new legislation which will ban the sale, manufacture and import of single-use and disposable vapes across the country.

These laws will also place restrictions on colours and imagery on packages and the devices themselves to ensure they are not aimed at young people.

Donnelly is expected to introduce this ban on environmental and public health grounds.

Disposal of the devices has been a problem of increasing urgency in recent years and there are public health concerns that failure to properly recycle the vapes, which include batteries, could result in the release of toxic compounds into the environment.

There is also concern that vaping products sold in Ireland contain the maximum permitted level of nicotine, and are therefore an ineffective means of quitting cigarette smoking.

A ban on the sale of vaping products and e-cigarettes to people aged under 18 came into effect in Ireland last year.

Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the proposed ban on disposable vapes, commenting that the widespread popularity of vaping is "the revenge of the tobacco industry".

Speaking before this morning's Cabinet meeting, he said it would specifically improve the health of young people.

"We live in a country where around 13% of people between the ages of 12 and 17 have vaped in the last 30 days," he said. "We need to take action in relation to that."