Consultation on a Bill containing provisions aimed at restricting the age of sale of nicotine-containing products (NCPs), including electronic cigarettes, has been launched by Health Minister Edwin Poots.
The provisions on e-cigarettes form part of a wider consultation on a draft Bill which also contains proposals for amending the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Act 2008.
The Minister said: “The popularity of e-cigarettes has grown rapidly in recent years. While they are likely to be less harmful than tobacco products, e-cigarettes are currently unregulated and, as such, we cannot confidently state that they are safe to use.
“At present, there are no legal restrictions on the age of sale for e-cigarettes.
“Given that the nicotine levels and additional chemical components can vary from product to product, I believe that they should be age restricted in line with alcohol and tobacco products and should not be available for sale to children and young people.”
Since the introduction of smoke-free legislation in the UK, the popularity of electronic cigarettes has increased significantly, with recent reports indicating that there are around 2million users of e-cigarettes in the UK.
The Minister added: “While it appears that the use of e-cigarettes by never-smokers is very low, there are concerns that these products could act as a gateway into smoking by young people.
“I want to ensure that our children and young people are protected from potential nicotine addiction and from subsequently taking up tobacco smoking. I believe that prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to under eighteens will help to achieve this.
“I therefore welcome views from all stakeholders and would encourage anyone with an interest to provide my Department with their comments.”
The consultation is available on the DHSSPS website and will last 12 weeks from 1 September to 21 November.
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