Scottish Government
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New rules for tobacco sales

Retailers intending to sell tobacco were today reminded that they have until October 1 to sign up to a new national register.

Under the new Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act, retailers must register to sell cigarettes. More than 5,000 have already signed up.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said:

"Cigarettes are harmful and it is only right that decisive action is taken to improve our health as a nation and discourage people from smoking.

"The introduction of the Scottish Tobacco Retailer Register will further help trading standards officers enforce age restrictions and crackdown on illicit sales.

"But we are also conscious of the need not to burden responsible retailers with needless bureaucracy. That's why the registration process is simple to complete online and free of charge."

John Drummond, Chief Executive, Scottish Grocers' Federation.

"Since April, 2011, SGF has been encouraging members to ensure that they have registered for the sale of tobacco beyond October 1, 2011.

"The Tobacco Register is part of the Scottish Government's attempts to ensure that retailers sell tobacco responsibly and can help the appropriate authorities root out the rogue retailers who flout the law. Responsible retailers have nothing to fear by registering."

The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, passed by parliament last year, contains measures aimed specifically at reducing the attractiveness and availability of tobacco to under 18s. As well as the introduction of the Scottish Tobacco Retailer Register it bans the display of tobacco and related products in shops, bans the sale of tobacco from vending machines, makes it an offence for under 18s to purchase tobacco, makes it an offence for adults to buy tobacco for under 18s (proxy purchase), gives trading standards officers powers to issue fixed penalty notices, and gives courts the power to ban retailers from selling tobacco where they have continually broken the law.

It will be illegal for retailers to sell tobacco products if they are not registered on the Scottish Tobacco Retailer Register by October 1, 2011. Registration is quick and free and can be done in a number of ways. Firstly, retailers on-line and complete the web-based form.

Retailers can also register on paper by downloading the registration form or by requesting a copy of the form by calling 0131 244 2169. Once completed the form should be sent to the Scottish Government, Tobacco Control Team, Area 3EN, St Andrew's House, Regent Road Edinburgh, EH1 3DG.

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