Ireland has announced plans to implement a licensing system for shops selling e-cigarettes and tobacco products, set to take effect on February 2, 2026. Under the new regulations, retailers will be required to pay an annual license fee of €800 for vaping products and €1,000 for tobacco products. Shops selling both will need to pay both fees.
The primary goals of this measure are to prevent the illegal sale of certain products and ensure that the ban on sales to minors is strictly enforced by all professionals in the industry. Retailers will also be required to register in a special database, subjecting them to checks carried out by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Failure to comply with the law will result in the revocation of the license, prohibiting the continued sale of tobacco and/or vaping products.
Online Sales Not Addressed
While the recently signed law in Dublin establishes a licensing system for physical shops, it does not address the issue of online sales, leaving a potential loophole in the regulation of e-cigarette and tobacco products.
As Ireland moves forward with this new licensing system, it remains to be seen how effectively it will combat youth vaping and the sale of illegal products, as well as its impact on the vaping industry as a whole.
