Across Europe, governments are navigating one of the most complex public health challenges of our time: how to regulate emerging nicotine products while protecting youth, safeguarding consumers, and achieving long-term health goals. At the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN), we recognize that these concerns are legitimate. Our goal is not to challenge regulation, but…
Recent reporting from Vejpkollen highlights a growing clash between Sweden and Brussels over proposed EU tax reforms that could dramatically reshape the nicotine pouch market. At the core of the dispute is a question of principle: should safer nicotine alternatives be taxed in the same way as cigarettes, or should taxation reflect their much lower…
In September 2025, France confirmed plans to ban the sale of nicotine pouches starting in 2026, a move hailed by anti-tobacco groups but criticized by harm reduction advocates as a serious setback for public health. The Ban and Its Rationale French authorities justified the ban as a measure to protect young people, pointing to rising…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is accelerating its review of nicotine pouches, responding to mounting pressure from the White House to clarify the regulatory status of one of the fastest-growing categories in tobacco harm reduction. A Rapidly Expanding Market in Limbo Nicotine pouches, tobacco-free oral sachets delivering nicotine without combustion, have surged in…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced strengthened requirements for child-resistant packaging (CRP) on nicotine products, underscoring the critical importance of safeguarding children while balancing access for adult smokers seeking reduced-risk alternatives. The decision comes amid rising concerns about accidental ingestion of nicotine pouches, e-liquids, and other smoke-free products. Although these products pose…
In July 2024, Canada banned the legal sale of nicotine pouches, restricting them to prescription-only access through Health Canada’s medical framework. At the time, regulators argued the move was necessary to protect youth from nicotine initiation. One year later, the results are clear and deeply troubling. Instead of reducing use, the prohibition has created the…
A coalition of 83 distinguished global authorities in public health, nicotine dependence, and tobacco control has issued a forceful open letter to the President of the European Commission and Commissioners. Their unified message: imposing steep new taxes on reduced-risk nicotine alternatives, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, would be a grave misstep. They…
The European Union is preparing its most ambitious overhaul of tobacco and nicotine regulation in over a decade. With the simultaneous review of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD), and a comprehensive recast of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), Brussels is signaling a shift that will affect consumers, governments, and the…
Contribution from Nancy Loucas The inaugural Asia Forum on Nicotine (AFN25), hosted by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) on 27 August, was a resounding success. The event drew together global experts, advocates, and consumers to champion evidence-based harm reduction strategies tailored to the Asia-Pacific region’s staggering 781 million tobacco users,…
Asia, the world’s largest consumer of combustible tobacco, is becoming a critical region in shaping the regulatory future of nicotine pouches and other smoke-free products. As governments across the continent respond to rising demand for safer nicotine alternatives, the picture that emerges is far from uniform. Regulations range from strict prohibitions and pharmaceutical-style oversight to…