President Michael Higgins signed the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill into law which says manufacturers have until May, 2016, to retool and start producing plain packs for the Irish market, RTE News said.

Plain packaging applies to cigarettes and roll-your-own products. The law mandates a matt finish and uniform colour for portions of the pack not devoted to graphic health warnings. Under EU rules, those warnings must cover two thirds of the front and back. Manufacturers must begin producing the plain packs from May, 2016, and only plain packs may be sold from May, 2017.