Asked by: Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to regulate the marketing and advertising of tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst the use of nicotine pouches is currently low among adults, it is increasingly popular with younger male audiences. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and we have a duty to protect children and young people from potential harms.
In October 2023, the Government and the devolved administrations launched the smokefree generation and youth vaping consultation which considered whether consumer nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, should come under a similar regulatory framework as nicotine vapes.
We have now published our response, which outlines measures to regulate the promotion and marketing of nicotine pouches, by restricting the flavours, packaging, and where nicotine pouches can be displayed in store. We have also committed to bring forward regulations to introduce an age of sale for these products of 18 years old or above. We will introduce the legislation as soon as possible.