Europe’s debate over nicotine regulation is entering an important phase. As EU institutions consider changes to tobacco-control and taxation frameworks, policymakers are confronting a fundamental question: should cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products be regulated in broadly similar ways, or should regulation recognise differences in product characteristics and risk? Recent reporting by Vaping Post highlights how…
Eight EU Member States have called on the European Commission to consider a far-reaching new approach to nicotine regulation as part of the forthcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD). In a joint letter dated 6 October 2026, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia and Spain argue…
The evidence base around oral nicotine pouches is expanding quickly. An updated scoping review published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research in September 2026 identified 73 new studies since an earlier review, examining areas including product characteristics, patterns of use, perceptions, toxicity, nicotine delivery, sales and marketing. The findings provide a more developed picture of the…
Mexico’s nicotine market is changing. Oral nicotine pouches, which contain nicotine but do not require tobacco combustion, have become increasingly visible through online platforms and physical retailers. Their emergence raises legitimate questions about product standards, nicotine strength, marketing, youth protection and how these products fit within Mexico’s existing regulatory framework. A recent commentary published on…
The evidence base around oral nicotine pouches is developing rapidly. A major updated scoping review published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research in September 2026 provides one of the broadest assessments so far, examining research on product characteristics, patterns of use, nicotine delivery, toxicity, marketing and potential public-health effects. The review identified 73 new studies, bringing…
Canada is holding firm on one of the more restrictive approaches to legal nicotine pouch access among countries where the products are authorised. Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel said this week that she is not considering loosening rules that restrict authorised nicotine pouches to pharmacies. The comments follow calls for wider retail availability, with supporters…
Sweden presents an unusual picture in European nicotine policy. Daily cigarette smoking has fallen to historically low levels, while the use of other nicotine products, particularly snus and nicotine pouches, remains considerably more common. According to Sweden’s Public Health Agency, 5.4% of people aged 16–84 reported smoking tobacco daily in 2024. At the same time,…
Europe’s approach to nicotine risk appears to be sending mixed signals. On 16 September, the European Parliament adopted its cardiovascular health strategy, in which differences in nicotine products and their risk profiles were recognised. Less than two weeks later, Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) adopted its report on the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer…
A recent JAMA Insights article on nicotine pouches provides a useful overview of the concerns and unanswered questions surrounding a rapidly growing category of smoke-free nicotine products. Published in 2026 by Thomas M. Piasecki, Megan E. Piper and Hasmeena Kathuria, the article examines patterns of nicotine pouch use in the United States, nicotine exposure, potential…
Public-health regulation frequently begins by identifying hazards. That is necessary, but identifying that a substance or product has the capacity to cause harm is not the same as establishing the level of risk associated with a particular pattern of use. This distinction matters increasingly in nicotine policy. Nicotine is addictive and is not risk-free, yet…