Department of Health delays introduction of plain packaging
Original date of 20 May 2016 for introduction of standardised packaging in Ireland has been delayed "due to the unusual delay in the formation of the government"
Print17 May 2016
Following “the unusual delay in the formation of the government”, the Department of Health has informed trade representative groups such as the CSNA and RGDATA, that the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products will be delayed.
The CSNA said “the intention to put into law the plain packaging regulations will not now take place before the summer occurs.
“This does not mean that the measure will not take place,” the retailers’ group added. Instead, it believes what will most likely happen is that the date for the end of the sell-through period for current tobacco packs, May 2017, will remain in place. However the upshot of this is that the trade will have a shorter time frame to adopt to the new regime.
When ShelfLife contacted the Department of Health for further details, a spokesperson said plain packaging would be deferred until the enactment of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016.
“The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 was enacted in March last year,” the spokesperson said. “The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 seeks to amend certain sections of the 2015 Act. The legislative process for this bill has been initiated in the Houses of the Oireachtas. However, due to the unusual delay in the formation of the government, the legislative process for this bill has not progressed to date. In view of this the commencement of the provisions of the 2015 Act relating to standardised packaging will be deferred until the enactment of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016.”
We will keep you informed as and when further details of the timeline for the introduction are revealed.
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