Starting July 29, tobacco-free nicotine pouches will be legally available in the UAE under a new Cabinet resolution aimed at supporting smoking cessation.
Dr. Sanam Mallick of Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi said nicotine pouches may offer similar benefits to traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like patches and gum, which can potentially boost quit rates by 50–70%, but that more studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness.
New research from Smoke Free Sweden reveals oral nicotine pouches are a game-changer in Sweden’s path to becoming the world’s first smoke-free nation – and are driving unprecedented success among women. The report, Power in a Pouch, launched today (June 17) in Strasbourg, shows since their introduction in 2016, tobacco-free pouches have helped to accelerate the decline in smoking for both genders, with a nearly 200% rise in quit rates among women. Sweden’s smoking rate is now 5.3%, just above the 5% smoke-free benchmark. Male lung cancer deaths are 61% below the EU average; total cancer deaths, 34% lower.
“The evidence is crystal clear: nicotine pouches are the most effective way to help smokers – especially women – quit,” said report co-author Dr. Marewa Glover, a behavioral scientist from New Zealand. “Health data and women’s testimonials show pouches are safe, socially acceptable, and fit modern lifestyles. They’re pragmatic, effective, and our best hope for a smoke-free future.”
KT&G Corp. is in talks to acquire a leading nicotine pouch company in Northern Europe for $200 million, according to The Korea Economic Daily. The belief is that South Korea’s dominant tobacco and ginseng producer is exploring new growth drivers amid tightening regulations and a shrinking traditional cigarette market, investment banking sources said this week.
If completed, the deal would mark KT&G’s first overseas M&A since it acquired a 60% stake in Indonesian tobacco maker Trisakti Purwosari Makmur in 2011 for about $90 million, the newspaper said.
According to reports, Flashlight Capital Partners, KT&G’s activist investor, urged the company to emulate global peers such as Philip Morris and accelerate its entry into new segments. PMI got into the nicotine pouch market in 2022 when it purchased Swedish Match, the maker of Zyn, for $16 billion. KT&G declined to comment on the acquisition talks, saying no decision has been finalized.
Researchers at USC’s Keck School of Medicine offered a press release titled “Use of nicotine pouches increases significantly among U.S. teens.” It begins by saying, “The use of nicotine pouches nearly doubled among U.S. high school students between 2023 and 2024,” with Dae-Hee Han, first author of the study, saying, “This growing public health issue needs more attention. Like flavored e-cigarettes when they first emerged, use of this new oral nicotine product is becoming more widespread, particularly among adolescents.”
Randomly selected responses from one-third of the 10,000 high school students surveyed found that between 2023 and 2024, nicotine pouch use increased from 3.0% to 5.4% all-time, and from 1.3% to 2.6% in the last 30 days. Dual use of nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes also increased, going from 2.7% to 4.7% lifetime and 1.1% to 1.7% in the last 30 days.
On the other hand, exclusive e-cigarette use declined from 25.7% to 22.0% lifetime, and from 12.3% to 10.1% in the last 30 days. And the use of non-tobacco nicotine products declined from 28.8% to 27.4% lifetime, and from 13.6% to 12.7% in the last 30 days.
Researchers said the trends reflect a shift in nicotine delivery products rather than a change in the overall prevalence of non-tobacco nicotine use among the students.
According to The Vaping Post, a confidential European Commission (EC) document, leaked by Snusjournalen, has revealed a contentious plan to impose a substantial EU-wide tax increase on nicotine pouches (NPs). Spearheaded by the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), the proposed measure could trigger widespread economic, political, and criminal repercussions across the Union.
Europe already finds itself in a tenuous economic situation, dealing with economic instability that includes inflation and escalating trade tensions with the United States. Worse on the nicotine front, a recent Europol report shared by Euroreporter, “The Changing DNA of Serious and Organised Crime,” highlights the direct link between excessive taxation and the rise of black markets—specifically citing tobacco and nicotine products. The report warns that strict tax policies create opportunities for criminal networks to expand operations, smuggle products across borders, and launder illicit funds. Experts fear that a steep price increase on NPs could drive a surge in illicit sales, with products being illegally imported from non-EU nations like China.
Although the European Commission has yet to confirm the directive publicly, the leak has already sparked significant concerns among key stakeholders, including law enforcement, investors, and consumer advocacy groups. Given Europol’s warnings on illicit trade and the broader political and economic climate, this proposed tax increase is shaping up to be one of the most contentious regulatory battles in the coming months.
“In light of these developments, the proposed tax hike on NPs adds yet another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile regulatory and economic landscape,” wrote The Vaping Post. “More importantly, with the vaping industry currently facing such a critical juncture, which could result in less availability of vaping products to smokers using them to quit, a harsh tax set on snus would be currently all the more detrimental to public health.”
Swedish Match North America is being sued for allegedly overcharging U.S. customers for its popular tobacco-free Zyn nicotine pouches.
The class action lawsuit, filed on Monday in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, alleges that the Philip Morris International subsidiary is violating federal and state antitrust laws concerning the market for modern oral nicotine pouches.
The plaintiff, a resident of Florida, claimed that Swedish Match illegally gained monopoly power through various business practices aimed at eliminating rival Dryft from the market, Reuters reports.
Swedish Match now has an estimated 80 percent of the market for nicotine pouches, which the company sells in different flavors and strengths for about $6 a tin, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement, Philip Morris, which was not named as a defendant, said, “We believe the plaintiff’s claims are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend against them.
Marlboro maker Philip Morris, in 2022, acquired the Swedish tobacco and nicotine products company for $16 billion. Philip Morris has stated an ambition to move away from health-harming cigarettes.
The consumer lawsuit seeks class action status for Zyn consumers and damages of more than $5 million.
The French government plans to ban nicotine pouches, citing concerns about underage use.
In an interview with Le Parisien published on Oct. 30, Health Minister Genevieve Darrieussecq said that pouches “are dangerous products because they contain high doses of nicotine.”
“The marketing of these products is directly targeted at young people, and I hope that we can protect our young people,” Darrieussecq was quoted as saying. She added that the ban will be announced in the coming weeks.
Nicotine companies have been marketing “modern oral” products as safer alternatives to smoking cigarettes. But according to Darrieussecq, they can be just as dangerous, “especially when they are used not by former smokers but by young people,” she said.
She argued that the pouches risk inducing nicotine addiction and serve as an entry into smoking.
Tobacco harm reduction advocates criticized the move.
“By banning nicotine pouches, Minister Darrieussecq is closing off an effective, far less harmful path for millions who struggle to quit smoking,” said Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance.
“Pouches have proven to help smokers transition away from cigarettes in other countries and are considerably safer. Rather than offering options, France risks pushing people toward smoking or the black market.”
Others questioned whether a ban would be effective. In Germany, where tobacco-free nicotine pouches are officially banned, they remain accessible and popular among young people, according to experts from the Tobacco Outpatient Clinic at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.
A law group in California has filed a lawsuit against Philip Morris in the state’s Southern District. The Schmidt National Law Group claims that the maker of Zyn is targeting children and young adults with its flavored nicotine pouches.
“Now comes along Zyn the chewing gum, and the common denominator of all these nicotine delivery systems is as far as targeting towards kids, and I’m talking about kids, middle school, high school, younger and younger,” said Martin Schmidt, managing attorney at The Schmidt National Law Group.
Although a person must be at least 21 years old to purchase the product legally, Schmidt says it is very accessible to people younger than 21. The class action lawsuit seeks “damages” from Philip Morris and Schmidt said he would like stricter limits on access to the product, according to media reports.
The case could take years to work its way through the litigation process, according to Schmidt.
The Kenyan government has relaxed nicotine pouch health warning requirements following BAT’s statement that it would pull investment from a new factory in the country’s capital, according to The Guardian.
The government agreed to let BAT sell Velo nicotine pouches with significantly smaller health warnings and without mentioning the presence of potentially cancer-causing toxicants, according to letters between BAT and the Ministry of Health, which were obtained by Examination, an investigative news outlet. The ministry agreed to let BAT sell Velo with a small warning stating, “This product contains nicotine and is addictive.”
Current regulations in the country state that labels must cover one-third of the package and include information about health hazards.
Kenya is one of BAT’s key “test markets” in low-income and middle-income countries, according to company financial presentations. The company plans to make Kenya its base of operations for a rollout of Velo across southern and eastern Africa.
In 2021, BAT requested its product be allowed to be sold with a warning label covering 10 percent of the packaging. In a letter, Crispin Achola, BAT Kenya’s managing director, told Mutahi Kagwe, the cabinet health secretary, “our resumption of factory operations and the sale of Lyft [Velo’s previous name] in Kenya hinges on the provision of appropriate text health warnings.”
“Your positive consideration of this request will allow us to operationalize our factory,” the letter said.
In response, the Ministry of Health agreed to allow a warning label covering 15 percent of the front of the package.
Velo is the only nicotine pouch legally available in Kenya, though other brands are smuggled in illegally.
Kenyan legislators are urging the government to ban the sale of BAT’s nicotine pouches Velo and Lyft, reports 2Firsts.
Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha was questioned about the products during a parliamentary address.
The Kenyan Tobacco Control Act (KTCA) states that all packaging of nicotine pouches and tobacco products must contain warnings in English and Kiswahili. Sabina Chege, Member of Parliament, showed two boxes of Velo nicotine pouches, which only displayed a reminder that Velo contains nicotine, which can be addictive. The argument by experts is that nicotine also poses serious health risks.
Allowing import and sale of the pouches could jeopardize the well-being of Kenyan youth, according to Chege. In response, Nakhumicha suggested the formation of a technical team to investigate the KTCA and make recommendations.