Health Minister announces next steps to introduce tobacco controls

Health Minister Edwin Poots has announced the next steps for the introduction of controls on regulating the sale of tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
~ Tuesday, 23 August 2011

The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to introducing regulations in Northern Ireland to ban the display of tobacco products at point of sale and sales from tobacco vending machines.

Minister Poots said: “Despite all the available evidence on the harm caused by smoking, hundreds of children and young people are still taking up this life-limiting habit each year. By removing displays of tobacco products from view in shops, and preventing children from accessing them through vending machines, we are building upon measures already in place aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking.”

Commenting on when the regulations would be introduced, the Minister said: “After taking into consideration views from stakeholders during the consultation process, and in view of the ongoing legal challenges to the equivalent regulations in England, I have decided that the display ban regulations will not be commenced in Northern Ireland until Spring 2012 at the earliest. With regards to regulations banning tobacco sales from vending machines, I hope to introduce these from 1 February 2012.

“My Department continues to follow the legal challenges, with a view to making the regulations as soon as possible once the legal position is clear, and a further announcement will be made in due course. I must stress that retailers will be informed of the final commencement date as soon as possible, to allow necessary adaptations to be made to their premises.”

The Minister added that his Department had made some amendments to the draft regulations to bring them into line with changes proposed to the English regulations. He said: “It is hoped that these amendments will facilitate retailers in complying with the legislation.”

A report of the consultation on draft regulations to control the display of tobacco products in shops, and to prohibit sales from tobacco vending machines, has been published on the DHSSPS website

Note to editors:

1. Copies of the consultation responses summary document are available on the DHSSPS website

2. The Department received over 1,000 responses to the consultation from a wide variety of stakeholders including representatives from the health and public sector, the tobacco industry and the retailer/vending machine sectors.

3. The regulations will be made under the Westminster Health Act 2009 which was granted Royal Assent on 12 November. Scotland’s Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 allows for both banning displays of tobacco products at point of sale and banning sales of tobacco from vending machines.

4. Following delays caused by ongoing legal action, England and Scotland are now proposing an introduction date of 6 April 2012 for large stores and 6 April 2015 for small stores. Wales has yet to announce a new date.

5. The Republic of Ireland introduced a display ban and further restrictions on underage access to vending machines from 1st July 2009.

6. The Department is committed to reducing smoking prevalence rates, including reducing uptake of smoking by children and young people. The latest survey results available show that almost 9% of 11-16 year olds in Northern Ireland are regular smokers.

7. Countries who have completely banned tobacco sales from vending machines include Vietnam, China, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Hungry, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia. Countries which have already introduced a display ban include the Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Thailand, Canada and Australia.

8. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575, out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.