THE NORTH'S health minister, Michael McGimpsey, has announced he is to raise the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco products in Northern Ireland from 16 to 18.
The move will bring the North's age limits into line with those in the South.
Mr McGimpsey's decision was based on a public consultation on the issue which began in October 2007.
The power to amend the minimum age is contained in The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
Yesterday's announcement to amend the legislation, raising the age limit to 18, was warmly welcomed by the British Medical Association (BMA) Northern Ireland.
"This will go some way to saving the lives of many people who frequently take up smoking when too young to be concerned about its consequences," according to Dr Colin Hamilton, chairman of the BMA's public health committee in the North.
The body, which represents medical practitioners in the North, had called for the change during the public consultation.
It also urged Stormont to introduce comprehensive smoking cessation services and to target these in the "high risk" groups for smoking including lower socio-economic groups and children.