New €800 vape licence fee facing Tipperary retailers to come into effect in February 2026

Tipperary retailers will have to pay an annual fee of €800 to sell vapes and €1,000 to sell tobacco as part of a new licencing system, a move which according to BAT Ireland will help to stop the proliferation of illegal vapes and prevent sales to under-18s. 

The new retail licensing scheme will come into effect next year on 2 February 2026 as part of the government's aim to further control the sale of vaping products in Ireland. 

BAT Ireland, which distributes and sells vapes, are welcoming the new licensing by the government, while others in the industry are more critical.

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In a statement made by Responsible Vaping Ireland on January 20 2025, the organisation said:

"Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI), the national trade organisation for vaping retailers, has today welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce a new retail licensing system for vaping retailers which will take effect in February 2026.

"Retailers will now need a licence to sell vaping products, which will cost €800 per year. If the Government truly wants to regulate vaping effectively, it must fund enforcement and make this a priority, to ensure that those who sell to under 18s or who sell illegal vapes are prosecuted and have their licence suspended.

"While the vast majority of retailers across the country are responsible in the sale of age gated products like vapes, there are a small number of bad actors who are impacting the reputation of the industry. The retail licensing system is a welcome step towards addressing these problems and supporting the business of responsible retailers across the country."

The licence fee will apply to all shops that sell vapes and tobacco, including individual chain outlets. Until now shops that sold tobacco had to pay a once-off €50 fee, and there was no licence for selling vapes.

The licencing system was passed via Statutory Instrument and is part of The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023.

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