Nicotine Pouches and Health Risks: What New Clinical Evidence Reveals

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open provides important insights into the biological effects of nicotine pouches, adding much-needed clinical evidence to an area often dominated by speculation. The findings reaffirm a central message in tobacco harm reduction: while nicotine is addictive, the health risks associated with non-combustible nicotine products are dramatically lower than…

An Evolution in Public Health: The FDA’s Ongoing Recognition of Tobacco Harm Reduction

At this year’s Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) Tobacco and Nicotine Conference, Acting Director for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), Dr. Bret Koplow, delivered a defining keynote — not marking a first, but rather a culmination of the FDA’s evolving stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR). The address…

Nicotine and Medical Research: The Overlooked Science Behind a Stigmatized Molecule

Nicotine has been vilified for decades, often conflated with the devastating health effects of smoking. Yet modern medical research continues to show that nicotine itself is not the cause of smoking-related cancers or cardiovascular disease. Instead, it is the combustion of tobacco, the burning process that releases thousands of toxic chemicals, that drives most smoking-related…

Policy Momentum on Nicotine Pouches in the UK: Balancing Regulation, Harm Reduction, and Youth Protection

Momentum is building in the United Kingdom toward a coherent and proportionate framework for regulating tobacco-free nicotine pouches. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, and the surrounding debates in both Houses have positioned the UK to establish a model that balances youth protection with adult harm reduction, consistent with NHS guidance and…

GINN’s Position on the EU Excise Directive Revision: Toward a Clear, Fair, and Evidence-Based Framework

GINN has formally contributed to the European Commission’s Consultation on the revision of Council Directive 2011/64/EU, which governs excise duties on tobacco and related products. We welcome the inclusion of nicotine pouches in this revision, provided they are recognized as a distinct, clearly defined category separate from traditional tobacco products. A science-based approach is essential.…

Cochrane Review: What We Know and Don’t Yet Know—About Nicotine Pouches and Smoking Cessation

A new Cochrane systematic review has examined whether oral nicotine pouches can help people stop smoking, vaping, or using other forms of tobacco. While early evidence is promising in showing lower toxicant exposure, the review concludes that more data is needed to determine their long-term impact on cessation outcomes. What the Review Found The Cochrane…

Portugal Introduces Nicotine Pouch Tax: A Step Toward Regulation and Responsible Harm Reduction

Portugal has taken a decisive step toward formalising the regulation of nicotine pouches by creating a new excise tax category for these tobacco-free, smokeless products. Beginning in 2026, nicotine pouches will be subject to a tax rate of €0.065 per gram of net weight, effectively bringing them under the country’s broader tobacco and nicotine tax…