Irish companies associated with vaping have expressed their frustration over the failure of the Department of Health to engage with the sector over new regulations being introduced from mid-May.

The new rules, on foot of an EU Directive, are due to be implemented in Ireland by 20 May 2016. The regulations introduce notification fees for vaping products, for manufacturers and importers.

Michael Kenneally, spokesman for trade association Vape Business Ireland, said that vape companies have received no indication of the cost to SMEs to notify their products. “This is in complete contrast to the Department of Health in the UK,” said Kenneally. “This means that while British businesses can plan for the Irish market, home-grown producers are at a complete disadvantage.

“When asked for detail on how the products will be regulated or when Irish SMEs will know the cost of regulation, neither the Minister for Health nor department officials seem able or willing to provide any clarity.”

Until now, vaping products have been unregulated. Vape liquid is sold in various nicotine strengths, and various flavours from menthol to chocolate. Under the new rules, every different product will have to tested and sanctioned, with an unknown fee attaching to each notification.

In Association with

The maximum size of vape liquid bottles will be 10 millilitres. The most popular unit size at the moment is 12mls, and 18mls and 24mls bottles are also sold. The maximum permissible nicotine strength of vape liquid will be 20mgs. At the moment the max strength available is 24mgs.

Kenneally, whose business is Gamucci Ireland, added: “The Department of Health is depriving Irish smokers of a viable alternative to tobacco smoking and is damaging the Irish vaping sector at the same time.

“I find it frustrating that the government is impeding my business through lack of information and engagement while other European governments are doing everything they can to empower my overseas competitors to enter the Irish market.

“They know how much they will need to pay to their home country to place products on the market thereby being able to accurately calculate market price. Because the Department of Health continues to delay this process in Ireland, I can’t plan for my business and I can’t compete”.