Canadian Conservatives Pledge to Scrap Pharmacy-Only Rule for Nicotine Pouches

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Party Advocates for Wider Retail Access, Citing ‘Freedom of Choice’

A future Conservative government in Canada would reverse the current Liberal policy restricting the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies, allowing them to be sold in general retail outlets like corner stores and gas stations. A party spokesperson emphasized the principles of “freedom of choice” for adult Canadians regarding legal products and ensuring access to less harmful alternatives for those trying to quit smoking.

Currently, Health Canada has licensed only one nicotine pouch product (Zonnic) as a smoking cessation aid. Last fall, the Liberal government restricted all such products to pharmacy-only sales, citing concerns about youth access. While tobacco control groups supported the move, critics argue it limits access to a potentially effective quit tool.

The Conservative spokesperson criticized the Liberal policy as hypocritical, contrasting it with harm reduction approaches for other substances. Advocates for wider access highlight that pouches deliver nicotine without smoke or vapor and point to international studies suggesting higher quit rates compared to traditional nicotine gums or patches. They warn that restricting access could impede Canada’s goal of achieving smoke-free status (under 5% smoking rate) by 2035, noting Sweden’s success using pouches.

New Zealand Faces Concerns Over Emerging Nicotine Pouch Trend

Anti-smoking advocates in New Zealand are expressing concern over the growing popularity of oral nicotine pouches, which they fear could overshadow progress made in reducing youth vaping rates. These highly addictive pouches, often sold under the brand name ZYN, are placed under the lip and absorbed in the mouth, presenting a new challenge in the fight against nicotine addiction.

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Icelandic Teens Lead Nordic Countries in Nicotine Pouch Use

A recent study by the Nordic Welfare Centre, spanning data from 2018 to 2024, has revealed that nearly 33 percent of Icelandic youth are now using nicotine pouches, marking the highest rate among Nordic countries. Despite this alarming trend, smoking rates remain remarkably low in Iceland, with only 6.6 percent of young people reported as smokers in 2023, compared to 12.1 to 19 percent elsewhere.

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Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Bill to Impose 20% Wholesale Excise Tax on ‘Nicotine-Like’ Products, Including ‘Zyn’ Pouches

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The Nebraska Legislature has taken a significant step towards regulating nicotine and “nicotine-like” products by advancing Legislative Bill 9, which proposes a 20% wholesale excise tax on alternative nicotine products. The bill, introduced by State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, aims to define “alternative nicotine products” and “nicotine analogues” in state law, creating an “umbrella” approach to capture future products without requiring specific legislation for each new product.

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Poland Imposes Excise Tax on E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches from April 1, 2025

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President Andrzej Duda has signed the Act of February 20, 2025, amending the Excise Tax Act, which will impose excise taxes on additional products starting April 1, 2025. The legislation introduces taxation on new categories of excise goods, including refillable electronic cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, multi-functional devices, their components, and nicotine pouches.

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Study Reveals Oral Nicotine Product Manufacturers’ Strategies to Attract Retailers

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A recent study led by Yale researchers and published in Tobacco Control in November 2024 has shed light on the advertising tactics used by oral nicotine product manufacturers to appeal to retailers. The study, which analyzed business-to-business advertisements from January 2016 to August 2022, found that manufacturers heavily promoted the profitability, convenience, and availability of non-tobacco flavors in their products.

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FDA Updates Import Alert 98-06 for 2025: Reinforcing Restrictions on Unauthorized Tobacco Products

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated Import Alert 98-06 for the year 2025. This update emphasizes that all new tobacco products, particularly snus and nicotine pouches, that have not undergone the required premarket review process may be detained without physical examination upon entry into the United States.

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UK Tobacco and Vaping: 6 Key Trends Shaping the Industry

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The world of tobacco, vaping, and next-generation nicotine products in the UK is undergoing significant changes, driven by shifting consumer preferences, regulatory developments, and evolving market trends. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down six key aspects of this dynamic landscape, helping you understand the forces shaping the industry and what they mean for retailers, consumers, and public health.

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Dutch Health Minister Slams EU Commission Over ‘Harmful’ Delays in Tobacco Legislation

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Dutch Health Minister Vincent Karremans has strongly criticized the European Commission’s decision to delay legislation related to new nicotine products, labeling it as “harmful” in a letter addressed to EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi. The letter, seen by Euractiv, comes in response to the Commission’s exclusion of tobacco-related legislation from its 2025 work program.

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Nicotine Pouch Regulation in Europe and Canada 2023-2025

Over the past few years, nicotine pouches have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional tobacco products. These small, discrete pouches contain nicotine, flavorings, and other ingredients, allowing users to consume nicotine without the need for smoking or vaping. However, as the popularity of nicotine pouches has grown, so too have concerns about their potential health risks and appeal to young people. In response, many countries in Europe and Canada have begun to introduce regulations to control the sale, marketing, and use of these products.

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