Nicotine Products Bill 2026 passes through Keys while LegCo asks for more time
A bill to prohibit the sale of items such as nicotine pouches to young people has successfully made its way through the House of Keys.
Put forward by Douglas North MHK David Ashford it hopes to 'plug the gap' in legislation and stop people under the age of 18 buying and consuming the items.
UK data shows there's been a 'steep increase' in 16–24-year-olds buying nicotine pouches with concerns that their marketing is being deliberately targeted towards younger age groups.
Mr Ashford says he's been 'shocked' by what he's seen and heard:
As it moved through the various stages (30 June) it was frequently remarked that the bill 'closed a gap' in existing Manx legislation which targeted the sale of tobacco and vaping products.
As nicotine pouches are neither a vaping product nor a medicinal product, they - and other like-for-like items - fall outside of the regulatory controls, including age restrictions.
As they are consumed orally they also fall outside some regulatory controls on tobacco products.
MHKs described the sale of nicotine pouches as an 'emerging industry'.
On the marketing of the products Douglas East MHK Clare Barber said: "When I saw Coca-Cola, bubblegum and 'ice candy' flavours, I thought, you know, this certainly isn't something that's being pitched into the adult market."
Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper introduced a series of amendments to the bill, including one which said that if someone under the age of 18 is sold a prohibited nicotine product that it is the owner of the store which is held responsible rather than the worker on the counter.
Mr Ashford described that, and Mr Hooper's other amendments, as 'perfectly sensible' and signalled his support.
Ultimately the bill received unanimous support from the chamber and passed through all stages in the space of an hour.
LegCo asks for more time to consider amendments
It had been hoped that the Nicotine Products Bill 2026 would also work its way through the Legislative Council during today's sitting.
However considering the number of amendments made during its passage members opted to adjourn the debate.
Diane Kelsey is an MLC:
President of Tynwald Lawrence Skelly said he will 'respond back with a suitable date' in his diary for the further sitting to take place.
It's understood the Legislative Council will consider the Nicotine Products Bill 2026 during a sitting on Tuesday, 7 July,
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