Public views are being sought on plans to impose more regulations on shops that sell cigarettes.
It is part of government’s work to implement the island’s tobacco strategy, a key component of which is cutting the number of young people taking up smoking.
Limiting access to tobacco products and reducing their visibility is said to be one way of achieving this.
The consultation is on regulations to be made under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2006, as amended by the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2015. The Bill successfully completed its passage through the Branches of Tynwald at the end of June and is awaiting Royal Assent.
This consultation concerns regulations governing displays of tobacco products, displays of price lists and ‘brand sharing’.
The regulations provide further detail about when and where tobacco products and their prices may be displayed. For example, tobacco products will need to be kept in closed storage units and be displayed only to persons over the age of 18, subject to certain specified exceptions.
The regulations will also provide more detail about the prohibition of ‘brand sharing’. This is where the use of a feature (name, logo, emblem etc) which is the same or so similar to a tobacco product that it has the effect of promoting a tobacco product.
Feedback from an earlier consultation indicated that local tobacco retailers required more time to make adjustments to tobacco displays if and when legislation was approved
For this reason, the Department of Health and Social Care now says the regulations for tobacco displays will not come into force until six months after they are approved by Tynwald.
Following approval, the department will invite tobacco retailers to meet with officers to discuss the implications of the legislation in respect of the purchase of new storage units, staff training and planning ahead.
Minister for Health and Social Care Howard Quayle MHK said: ‘I was very pleased when the Bill progressed through the Branches of Tynwald with almost universal support, as it is a significant step forward towards the achievement of the island’s tobacco strategy.
‘The strategy is very clear that we must do all that we can to prevent our young people from easily accessing tobacco products and there is evidence that tobacco displays influence young people and increase the likelihood of them taking up smoking. Evidence also shows that such displays increase the likelihood of impulse buying.
‘These regulations provide the detail about how the new primary legislation will be enforced and the Department will work with the local tobacco retailers to ensure that, if the regulations are approved by Tynwald, they are prepared for the new requirements by the time they actually come into force.’
A copy of the consultation can be found {https://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=519|here}.
The deadline for submissions is September 28.