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Retailers face annual tobacco-licence fees

A new licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes is to come into force on 2 February 2026. 

This follows the commencement of the remaining sections of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023. 

Currently, anyone wanting to sell tobacco products from one or more premises need only to register and pay a once-off fee of €50. There are no requirements for persons wishing to sell nicotine-inhaling products. 

Annual licences 

Under the new system, annual licences will be required for the sale of such products for each premises from which either product is sold. 

Applications must be made to the National Environmental Health Service of the HSE, which has been given the power to issue licences. 

Regulations made by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly set the annual licence fee at €1,000 for the sale of tobacco products and €800 for the sale of nicotine-inhaling products. 

The law also provides for licences for temporary or mobile premises, while it also allows licences to be suspended or revoked. 

Retail workers 

In addition, the minister has commenced a requirement for retail workers that sell these products to be over 18 years of age, with some exceptions for family members. 

The National Environmental Health Service will also be able to publish the names of those businesses that have been convicted of tobacco-control offences. 

The minister said a 13-month lead-in time would allow retailers to prepare for the measure. 

“I’m hopeful that the introduction of an annual fee from next year for the sale of tobacco products will act as a disincentive for some retailers to stock these products at all, as it is the Government’s objective to eliminate tobacco use.  

“Similarly, it is my intention that a licensing regime for nicotine-inhaling products will similarly reduce the number of outlets where they are sold,” he added.