Advertising or displaying tobacco products in shops was banned in Ireland from yesterday.

Ireland, one of the first nations to ban smoking in the workplace in 2004, said the new rules would require retailers to store tobacco products out of view, in a closed container or a dispenser accessible only by staff. The Irish government said the ban was the first of its kind in the EU.

"Its placement in proximity to everyday consumer goods such as newspapers and sweets helps tobacco to be seen as another benign consumer product," Minister of State Aine Brady said.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, causing almost 7,000 premature deaths a year, she said. The new rules will ban tobacco vending machines except in licensed premises and registered clubs. The British government said in December it was planning a similar ban in England to cut the number of young people who start smoking. Such measures are planned or already introduced in countries including Scotland and Canada.

Last week, US President Barack Obama, citing his own struggle to give up smoking, signed a law giving the US government sweeping powers to curb advertisements, require stronger package warnings and inspect manufacturers.