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Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Institute of Public Health calls for ban on sunbeds
A ban on sunbeds has been recommended by the Institute of Public Health to help tackle spiralling rates of skin cancer in Ireland, now among the highest in the world. It found a high number of children and teens still using sunbeds even though under-18s are banned from sunbed outlets. The institute warned: People who use sunbeds for the first time before the age of 35 increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75%. Irish data which fed into the new report, published on Wednesday, shows that 5.2% of children aged 10 to 17 reported ever using a sunbed. A further 4.4% of this age group reported using a sunbed in the last 12 months. By 2023, some 363 sunbed outlets were registered with the HSE's National Environmental Health Service. Among these 78 were in Dublin, 49 in Cork and 23 in Limerick. During 368 inspections, the HSE found 394 infringements including the unsafe use of sunbeds by adults and accepting underage customers. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 cases of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed annually. Ultraviolet light emitted from sunbeds is recognised as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization and the European Commission, the report also stated. This overview of sunbed use and policy options to reduce skin cancer risk examines a range of options. However, the Institute of Public Health concluded that a ban would be the most effective move. Its director of policy Helen McAvoy warned that sunbeds are still being used by children. 'A ban on sunbeds has been shown to work,' Dr McAvoy said. In Australia, it is estimated to have prevented tens of thousands of skin cancers and led to significant health cost savings. 'Introducing a similar ban on sunbeds in Ireland could help to stem skin cancer rates, which are projected to double over the next 20 years.' Minister of state for public health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has set up a working group to examine how a ban on commercial sunbeds could be implemented. 'This report reinforces what we already know, there is no safe level of sunbed use,' she said. 'Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, and we must act decisively to protect our population, particularly our young people, from preventable harm.'
Irish Examiner
02-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HSE issues vapes alert on six e-cigarettes falsely labelled as nicotine-free
People have been warned by the HSE's National Environmental Health Service to stop using six vapes falsely labelled as nicotine-free. The six e-cigarettes were found to contain nicotine at concentrations as high as 30 mg/ml following analysis by the State Laboratory — far above the legal concentration level for nicotine vapes. Anyone who bought one of the six vapes listed below can return them to the shop where they were bought. Vape shops and retailers have been asked to stop selling them. They are: McKesse MK Bar 7000. Sub-brand (flavour): Blueberry McKesse MK Bar 7000. Sub-brand (flavour): Blackcurrant Mango McKesse MK Bar 7000. Sub-brand (flavour): Blueberry Pear Bang Box 18000 Puffs. Sub-brand (flavour): Watermelon Ice Bang Box 18000 Puffs. Sub-brand (flavour): Strawberry Watermelon Bang Box 18000 Puffs. Sub-brand (flavour): Blueberry Ice HSE Principal Environmental Health Officer, Margaret Ruddy, warned: 'We are continuing to identify non-compliant products on the Irish market.' The Bang Box Watermelon Ice. Analysis showed in these cases that the nicotine concentration ranged from 18.8 mg/ml to 30 mg/ml. The legal concentration level for nicotine-containing vapes is 20mg/ml. 'Retailers should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to consumers,' she said. 'Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products.' Anyone who became ill after using these e-cigarettes should contact their GP. They can also notify the HSE by email at The HSE has also alerted shops which may have sold these vapes to display a recall notice. Shops are advised: 'By law, you are responsible for non-compliant products found in your shop.' Regulations In Ireland it is already illegal to sell vapes to under-18s. Proposals for further regulations are now being drafted with the Attorney General, a Department of Health spokeswoman said. The proposals include a ban on all disposable vapes and a ban on devices resembling toys or games. It would mean a ban on point-of-sale display and advertising of nicotine-inhaling products in most shops. The legislation is expected to also include restrictions on the colours and imagery used on nicotine-inhaling products and their packaging. It could bring in significant limits on the flavours for sale and requirements for only basic flavour names to be used. It could lead to only tobacco-flavoured vapes being sold here as is already the case in some European countries. 'The upcoming Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill is designed to address the rise in youth use of vapes in Ireland,' the department spokeswoman said. She also highlighted growing concerns that the decline in use of tobacco products, including cigarettes in Ireland, has slowed. The figures have not really moved since 2019, separate data shows. 'The stalled decline in smoking among adults is of significant concern,' she said. 'Last year, the Oireachtas passed legislation to raise the age of sale for tobacco products to 21 years, as a direct response to this issue. 'The Tobacco Free Ireland policy is also currently under review, to examine what measures need to be taken for Ireland to become tobacco-free.' Read More Vaping has led a surge of young people using nicotine/tobacco products
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
HSE chiefs in ‘stop using' warning to thousands of Irish vapers over 3 e-cigarette products
AN urgent warning has been issued for thousands of vapers over three e-cigarette products sold in Ireland. The 3 McKesse MK Bar 7000 has been removed from the shelves for breaking legal regulation Credit: X @HSELive 3 JNR Crystal Pro Max 5000 contain nicotine at concentrations of 18.0 mg/ml to 19.0 mg/ml Credit: X @HSELive 3 The Crystal Bling 6000+ puffs has also been removed from the shelves Credit: X @HSELive The products contain nicotine at concentrations of 18.0 mg/ml to 19.0 mg/ml following analysis by the State Laboratory. The alerts have been issued to the The e-cigarettes involved are the following: The Crystal Bling 6000+ puffs - Sub-brand (flavour): 5G HRTP Blue Razz Lemonade, Batch No. THE240801 McKesse MK Bar 7000 - Sub-brand (flavour): Passionfruit & Lime JNR Crystal Pro Max 5000+ puff - 0% nicotine Sub-brands (flavours): Kiwi Watermelon Ice Batch No. C24H8399-CP5000 Read more in Health The HSE took to They said: "Our National Environmental Consumers can return them to the shop where they were bought and retailers have been asked to stop selling them. Health chiefs also urged to people selling Most read in Health They added: "We are calling for much greater vigilance by retailers and importers of e- Dr Maurice Mulcahy, Regional Chief Environmental Health Officer, HSE said: 'The National Environmental Health Service is regularly finding non-compliant products on the Irish market. HSE in urgent 'don't regret it later' alert as they warn cough lasting three weeks could by cancer symptom "These three most recent alerts are for products labelled as containing 'no nicotine' but following laboratory analysis by the State Laboratory we found that they have concentrations as high as 19.0 mg/ml. "While this may be below the legal permitted limit of 20 mg/ml, it is not what the consumer has been told they contain. "In addition, these products were found to have 7.7ml to 9.4ml of nicotine-containing liquid, almost 4 to 5 times the permitted volume (2ml)." 'UNSAFE PRODUCTS' Dr Mulcahy continued: "The HSE National Environmental Health Service, in response to finding non-compliant and unsafe products on the Irish market, will continue to use its legal powers to protect the public up to and including product seizure, product destruction and prosecutions. 'However, retailers play an important role in protecting the consumers of such products from potential harm and should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to "Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products." RECALL NOTICE And retailers who have sold or distributed any of these products must display a recall notice in their retail premises, website and Consumers are strongly advised to check their electronic cigarettes to see whether they may have the products involved in these alerts. If they have any of these products, consumers should stop using them and return them to the shop where they were purchased. The HSE has contacted distributors and importers of e-cigarettes and refill containers known to the HSE and made them aware of this issue and will be following up as required. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS Dr Mulcahy added: 'Retailers need to make themselves fully aware of their legal obligations and put in place robust and effective supplier controls. "We recommend retailers satisfy themselves that the products they sell are legally compliant and have been duly notified to the HSE via the European Common Entry Gate system (EU CEG). "Furthermore, if retailers also bring nicotine inhaling products into Ireland from another country that is outside the European Union, such the UK, they may by virtue of this fact also be considered an importer. "Being an importer places additional legal obligations requiring notification of these imported products to the HSE via the EU CEG and making a declaration on the EU CEG that they are responsible for the safety and quality of these products.'
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Sunbeds: Judge says it's a pity ban is not extended to adults too
A judge has stated that it is a pity that there is not a ban on sunbed operators facilitating sunbed sessions for adults. At Ennis District Court on Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment after a Shannon-based sunbed business, Solcraft Ltd entered a guilty plea to selling the use of a sunbed at Cosmopoli-Tan in Shannon to a person under the age of 18. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is bringing the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 where only two such HSE prosecutions for the sale of sunbed sessions to minors were recorded in 2024. Solcraft Ltd of Dun Na Ri, Shannon has pleaded guilty to the offence taking place at Cosmopoli-Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Brú Na Sionna, Shannon on November 26th 2024. Acting as agent in the case on behalf of solicitor, John Casey, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick told the court there is a guilty plea in the case by Solcraft Ltd. Judge Gabbett told the court that sunbed operators can't facilitate providing a sunbed session to children. He said: 'That is a very good thing. It is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well." Solicitor for the HSE, Michelle Cronin said: "I wouldn't disagree with you, Judge.' Judge Gabbett said: To be frank now, there were prosecutions by the HSE for smoking [in the workplace] but this is the same thing. It is probably more dangerous. Ms Cronin said: 'It is a concern to us that there is an increase in the amount of sunbeds available.' The HSE was prosecuting three parties for the same offence in the case and Ms Cronin of Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors said that the HSE was withdrawing the prosecutions against Przemyslaw Szczupak of Cosmopoli-Tan and Munique Comargo of Cregaun, Ennis. Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said on Friday: 'In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. He said: 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.' He added: "In 2023, 17 fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. "Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court." Judge Gabbett adjourned the case for sentence to June 20 at Ennis District Court. Read More Salon caught in sting operation admits breaking sunbed rules for under-18s
