By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Licensing now live: Ireland’s tobacco and nicotine retail licensing system takes effect Feb. 2, with annual fees of €1,000 for tobacco and €800 for vaping products.
• Enforcement is the test: Industry groups support licensing but warn outcomes depend on inspection capacity and consistent compliance checks.
• Nicotine pouches in focus: BAT is pushing to include nicotine pouches in the licensing framework, citing regulatory gaps and youth-access risks.

Ireland’s new retail licensing system for tobacco and nicotine products took effect today, Feb. 2, introducing annual fees and expanded oversight to tighten control over nicotine sales and curb illicit trade.

Under the regime, retailers must now hold an annual license for tobacco products at €1,000 (US$1,181) and for nicotine inhalation products, including e-cigarettes, at €800. The system was announced in January 2025 and is intended to strengthen age-verification compliance, improve enforcement of excise duties, and increase visibility in the nicotine retail market.

Industry groups broadly support the framework but stress that its effectiveness will hinge on enforcement. Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI), representing more than 3,500 vape retailers, said licensing can succeed only if regulators actively address non-compliance.

“Licensing is a very effective tool, but only if it is properly enforced,” an RVI spokesperson said. “Responsible, licensed vape retailers already comply with strict age-verification and product standards.”

British American Tobacco (BAT) also welcomed the rollout but argued that the framework should be expanded. David Melinn, BAT Ireland’s country manager, said the licensing system should include nicotine pouches, which are currently unregulated under Irish law.

“If properly enforced, the new retail licensing system should crack down on rogue operators,” Melinn said, adding that BAT supports regulation banning the sale of nicotine pouches to those under 18.

BAT, which sells nicotine pouches under the Velo brand, has previously raised concerns about the availability of high-strength products in Ireland and the lack of a formal regulatory framework governing their sale.

Both BAT and RVI identified limited inspection capacity as a potential weakness. Health authorities have projected 448 underage test-purchase inspections in 2026, a figure that industry groups say must increase for the licensing regime to deliver meaningful results in combating illicit trade and youth access.