A Fianna Fáil MEP has called on the government to “stand up to Big Vape” by “outlawing” disposable vape products and introducing “an outright ban” on their sale and supply.
Barry Andrews – who is running in the upcoming European elections – claimed that “the time for tinkering around the edges of a ban has long-since passed.”
“By failing to introduce an outright ban on these harmful products, we are walking younger generations into an environmental and health crisis that is entirely avoidable.”
The MEP said that the government must “stand up to” what he called “predatory practices” of vape companies, “who are targeting young people with colourful, flavourful, cheap and disposable e-cigarettes.”
“Big Vape’s claims that they only target smokers who want to quit are, quite frankly, ludicrous,” he said.
“If that was the case, why would they bother disguising their tobacco products as fun, harmless, tasty, and vibrant?”
In addition to banning disposable vapes, Andrews called for “plain packaging” for vapes, as well as “a ban on flavours” and to “move the sale of vapes behind the counter.”
“I have raised this issue at European Parliament level,” he said.
“As a member of the MEPs Against Cancer group, I have pushed for an EU-wide ban on disposable vapes. While I welcome moves the Irish government has made to limit the use of vapes, I think we can go further.
“Ireland showed courage and leadership in introducing the Smoking Ban 20 years ago – a move has saved an estimated 1,500 lives in Ireland every single year since its introduction. It’s time now for a similar hardline stance.”
The MEP said that lithium batteries in disposable vapes “are highly toxic and harmful for the environment” and that the products ended up leaving behind “microplastics”.
“When disposed of improperly, they leach toxic chemicals into the soil and water, posing a significant threat to our ecosystems,” he said.
“Most disposable vapes contain metals which can take years to decompose. They also contain plastic which never fully decomposes.
“It turns into ‘microplastics’ or tiny pieces of plastic, which continue to pollute the environment and pollute our food and drinking water.”
He added: In March of this year, I wrote to the Minister for Health and the Minister for the Environment calling for an outright vape ban. It is time to stand up to Big Vape.”
The statement comes after earlier this year, the UK government announced that they would be implementing a disposable vape ban, with Northern Ireland set to ban the product by April 2025.