Pharmacies to halt the sale of herbal cigarettes

Herbal cigarettes are to be banned from sale in chemist shops.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has said the forthcoming national workplace smoking ban has made it unethical to continue selling them due to their tar content.

Herbal cigarettes are not covered by the ban, which takes effect next Monday.

Dr Mark Ledwidge of the PSI has said: “We would be very keen that the public would be aware that these products will not be stocked in pharmacies from here on, and that they are not safe.

"Simply because they do not contain nicotine does not mean that they are safe. They contain tar, and therefore pose a serious cancer risk.”