Regulation Advances, but Tax Policy May Undermine Harm Reduction South Korea has moved to regulate synthetic nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, under its tobacco framework. The revised Tobacco Business Act is due to take effect on 24 April 2026, bringing products that previously fell outside parts of the existing legal structure within a clearer system…
Australia has long been recognised as a global leader in tobacco control. It pioneered plain packaging, high tobacco taxes, advertising restrictions and comprehensive smoking reduction strategies, yet questions remain about how effective some of these measures have been in delivering the outcomes promised. Its latest reforms, however, mark a significant turning point in nicotine policy.…
For decades, tobacco control policies have been built around a straightforward premise: products containing tobacco should be regulated as tobacco products. This approach made sense when cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco dominated the market. Today, however, the nicotine landscape has changed significantly. A growing range of smoke-free products, including nicotine pouches, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco…
The United Kingdom’s Tobacco and Vapes Act marks one of the most significant tobacco control reforms in a generation. By introducing a “smoke-free generation” policy and strengthening the regulation of tobacco and vaping products, the legislation establishes an ambitious framework for reducing smoking prevalence and protecting future generations. But passing legislation is only the beginning.…
From 1 August 2026, Finland will complete one of Europe’s most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for nicotine pouches as standardized plain packaging requirements become fully mandatory. The measures represent the final stage of amendments to Finland’s Tobacco Act that have progressively tightened controls on nicotine pouches since August 2025. For GINN, Finland’s approach is significant not…
As nicotine pouches continue to emerge within tobacco harm reduction discussions, policymakers are increasingly faced with a fundamental question: how should the health risks of these products be assessed? Public debate often reduces the issue to a simple question of whether nicotine pouches are “safe” or “unsafe.” While understandable, this framing overlooks how modern toxicology…
The rapid emergence of oral nicotine pouches has presented policymakers with a familiar challenge. Innovation is moving faster than legislation, forcing regulators to determine how new products fit within legal frameworks that were largely designed for traditional tobacco products decades ago. A recent editorial published in Addiction, “Novel Product, Familiar Challenges: Navigating Uncertainty in Oral…
As governments around the world grapple with the rapid emergence of modern nicotine products, a common regulatory challenge is becoming increasingly apparent. How can policymakers protect public health while ensuring that regulation remains proportionate to the risks different products actually present? Brazil has become one of the latest countries to confront this question. The National…
Public health discussions surrounding problematic drug use often focus on overdose prevention, infectious diseases, mental health, and access to treatment services. Yet one of the most significant contributors to illness and premature mortality among people who use drugs frequently receives far less attention: smoking. A recent briefing paper from the Global State of Tobacco Harm…
About GINN. The Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) is a membership-based association and the responsible voice of the novel nicotine sector. GINN represents small and medium-sized European manufacturers and distributors of nicotine pouches and promotes an evidence-based, science-led approach to the regulation of reduced-risk products, with the goal of helping adult smokers move away…