The island has “fallen behind” neighbouring jurisdictions in protecting young people from tobacco harms, a select committee report has concluded.
Dr Michelle Haywood, who originally sought leave to introduce a private member’s bill in July 2024, noted how the UK’s law now makes it illegal to for anyone born at January 1 2009 to smoke.
“The Isle of Man is now at the risk of the very cross border differences that members were concerned about when I first asked for leave to introduce,” Dr Haywood said.
“We have once again fallen behind protecting our next generation.”
Committee
The select committee was established after Dr Haywood’s request was amended by Council of Ministers, who tasked it with reporting before any legislation could be introduced.
“The time taken for the committee to call for the evidence, conduct the hearings, and prepare the report means the UK travelled on without us keeping pace,” she said.
“Perhaps that’s what the Council of Ministers intended when it put these matters into a committee rather than granting leave to introduce. If so, I think it’s a shame on them.”
The report also highlights concerns about unregulated nicotine products including pouches, which Dr Haywood described as “totally unregulated” and an “upcoming challenge”.
Public Health and the Office of Fair Trading have been asked to push for legislative changes in their respective areas.
Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford thanked the committee and acknowledged work is underway on nicotine pouches.
“The harms around tobacco and associated products, as I’m sure the committee heard from public health, is something that does concern them,” he said.
“I will be engaging and talking to honourable members over coming days about some of those potential solutions.”