Ireland affirms its commitment to fighting new nicotine products at national and European levels.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called on the European Union to urgently close existing "gaps" in the regulation of nicotine products as these products gain popularity among young people and children.[1]. In a letter to Ireland's Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Tedros thanked Ireland for its "consistent leadership" in promoting nicotine regulation and highlighted its upcoming role during the EU Presidency. He also mentioned "strong industry opposition" when governments seek to strengthen regulation of the sector. As a member state, Ireland is already committed to a policy of regulating these products.

Ireland wants to include the new products in the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.

Current European regulations concerning tobacco and vaping products, which came into force in 2014, introduced initial protective measures for new products, including health warnings and limits on nicotine content. However, markets have evolved rapidly with the arrival of new products such as disposable e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other nicotine-containing products.

The Irish government has repeatedly called for a strengthening of existing European legislation in order to counter these market developments.

According to the WHO, the upcoming revision of the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) represents a "key opportunity" to strengthen the fight against tobacco and related products. In accordance with the legislative process, the current legislation is undergoing an evaluation by the European Commission, which will then make a proposal following this evaluation. but the schedule has already been delayed by several years.

The Irish Minister for Health has expressed her desire to advance discussions during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026. However, if the Commission's proposal is not published until the end of 2026, negotiations between Member States may not begin until 2027.

The current European Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi, acknowledged the "growing concern" related to the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among young people and reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to "comprehensive and effective" anti-smoking legislation.

However, these advances require negotiations and could be jeopardized by certain member states close to the nicotine industry, while a Lobbying is being carried out very intensely in the European Union by manufacturers to gain acceptance for the "risk reduction" marketing strategy.«. Their goal is to be able to sell their new products: electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and obtain favorable and less restrictive regulations.

Ireland's vaping policy underlines the country's ambition to regulate new products

The 2024 European survey on alcohol and other drugs among pupils revealed that, among 15-16 year olds, around 32% of Irish people have tried e-cigarettes or vaping, while 16% are current users, of whom 7% report daily use.

The country is among the member states that have decided to adopt national measures against new products, including electronic cigarettes, without delay.

For example, it has banned the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes or "puffs", like France and Belgium.

Recently, the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál Martin described electronic cigarettes as "« revenge of the big tobacco companies »" expressing concern about the health risks revealed by scientific research on these products, which are sold in nearly 3,500 outlets across the country[2].

The Taoiseach has thus declared that he wants to follow the United Kingdom in its bill to ban vaping in private vehicles in the presence of minors, in playgrounds and in areas near schools.

" A law is being drafted., [the Minister of State at the Ministry of Health] Jennifer Murnane O'Connor is introducing a bill on electronic cigarettes; we will pass it and follow it closely to determine what additional steps we can take to address it. »[3]. The proposal reportedly includes extending to vaping certain measures taken against cigarettes, such as restricting their advertising in physical points of sale and limiting the flavors available for sale.[4].

This desire to combat the nicotine addiction epidemic caused by vaping resonates within Irish society: in a country where three-quarters of the population identify as Catholic, the Irish clergy has come to support government policy through Bishop Michael Router of the Irish Bishops' Initiative Against Drugs. According to him, the Church's response to drug addiction must be to "« to speak honestly about the harms while questioning the social and cultural norms that contribute to them »"The young Irish boys aged 12-13 who are taking their confirmation exam are urged not to use drugs, including legal ones like vaping products.".

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[1]Jack Power, Push to close nicotine loopholes at EU level, WHO chief tells McNeill, The Irish Times, published on February 15, 2026, accessed on February 16, 2026

[2]Ralph Riegel, Taoiseach slates vapes as the 'revenge of big tobacco' amid calls for UK-style ban, Irish Independent, published on February 13, 2026, accessed on February 16, 2026

[3]Donald O'Keeffe, Government considers ban on vaping in cars carrying children, Echo Live, published on February 16, 2026, accessed the same day

[4]Barry Roche, Government open to banning vapes in cars with children, says Taoiseach, The Irish Times, published on February 14, 2026, accessed on February 16, 2026

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