Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
The Chairperson (Mr Gildernew): The Department of Health advises that this is a technical statutory instrument (SI) to ensure that the North continues to comply with the EU tobacco products directive (TPD), in compliance with the Ireland/NI protocol. One thing that concerns me about that is the line at the very end of page 178 of members' packs:
"Since [Britain] will no longer be required to comply with the TPD, it is possible there will be some deregulation (particularly of e-cigarettes) following such a review. However, it is likely the overall approach towards tobacco and vaping products ... will remain highly regulated given the public health implications."
It might be useful to get more information on whether that indicates that there may be deregulation here and how that would be done or whether it applies to Britain.
The Committee Clerk: Initially, obviously, we are bound by the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol. That is what this is doing: it is to make sure that Northern Ireland continues to adhere. Deregulation possibilities are restricted here by the protocol. We will hear more. Members may recall that we have scheduled an overarching briefing on Brexit developments for 19 November. We can follow up on that at that point.
The Chairperson (Mr Gildernew): Thank you. In that case and given that we can use the opportunity on 19 November to make further enquiries, are members content for now to note the SI?
Members indicated assent.
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