Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what response they plan to provide to the comments submitted by EU member states to the Technical Regulation Information System notification detail on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, notification number 2025/7022/XI.

The Government intends to respond to the European Commission by the 18 February, in line with requirements under the Technical Regulatory Information System (TRIS) procedure. This exchange of opinions and responses is a standard part of the TRIS procedure which is not an approval process. The Government’s position remains that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will apply in Northern Ireland and is consistent with both our domestic and international obligations.