Nicotine pouches are white pre-portioned pouches containing nicotine but no tobacco, and are described as either similar to or a tobacco-free version of snus. No combustion is involved. The user puts a pouch between the upper lip and gum, and leaves it there while the nicotine and taste is being released. When finished, the pouch is disposed of in household trash. The small pouches are used like chewing tobacco, but the user does not need to spit, as the contents of the pouches stay inside the pouches during use. Nicotine pouches are shelf-stable and do not need refrigeration. There is no independent testing of their constituents, exposure or biomarkers of effects. Research analyzing their nicotine delivery is unavailable. The pouches are sold in an array of flavors. In 2019, five big tobacco companies offered nicotine pouch products.
Usage
No studies are available to determine if smokers would switch to nicotine pouches or if they would continue to smoke and use nicotine pouches, resulting in dual use. Nicotine pouches typically cost about as much as a pack of regular cigarettes. Unlike vaping products, they require no batteries and no accessory device. Nicotine pouches may entice youth as well as young adult never-smokers because they are available in an array of fruit flavors and may be used unobtrusively. In Norwegian pharmacies, nicotine pouches are also sold as a delivery mechanism for nicotine replacement therapy, approved by the Norwegian Medicines Agency for smoking cessation and sold under the brand Zonnic.
Contents
Nicotine pouches often contains food grade fillers, water, salt, flavorings and nicotine. The nicotine content among nicotine pouch brands differ per pouch. Nicotine pouches are sold in an array of fruit flavors such as black cherry and citrus. Other flavors include peppermint and coffee.
Research
Although nicotine pouches have the possibility of being a reduced risk product, there is no independent testing of their constituents, exposure or biomarkers of effects. Research analyzing their nicotine delivery is unavailable. The pouches contain the addictive chemical nicotine.
Opposition
Advocacy groups opposed to the introduction of nicotine pouches in Kenya have protested that they may raise the risk of cancer, heart disease, and reproductive or developmental harms. The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance said that given the higher levels of some toxic chemicals, and what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said was a lack of medical data showing the pouches are safer than cigarettes, the government should not license the product.
Brands
Dryft is owned by Kretek International and it is sold in the US. The nicotine content for Dryft is 2 and 7 mg. Lyft is owned by British American Tobacco and it is sold in the UK and Sweden. The nicotine content for Lyft is 4 and 6 mg. In 2019, British American Tobacco started selling nicotine pouches in Kenya. Nordic Spirit is owned by Japan Tobacco International and it is sold in Switzerland and Sweden. The Nordic Spirit pouches contain plant-based fibers, nicotine, additives, and flavorings and are intended to be put beneath the upper or lower lip and are absorbed through the gums. Altria purchased 80% of the On! nicotine pouch company. It is sold in Sweden, Japan and the US. Velo is owned by R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company and it is sold in the US. The nicotine content for Velo is 2 and 4 mg. Velo states that the contents in their products consist of nicotine obtained from the tobacco plant, microcrystalline cellulose, water, salt, sucralose, citric acid, and artificial flavor. Zone X is owned by Imperial Tobacco and it is sold in the UK. ZYN is owned by Swedish Match and it is sold in Europe and the US. Zyn states that the contents in their products consist of pharmaceutical-grade nicotine salt, hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, maltitol, gum arabic, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, acesulfame K, and food-grade flavorings.
Classification
It is assumed they are classified as tobacco products in the US because they contain nicotine obtained from tobacco. It is not clear how they are classified in other countries. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches were for sale in Norway from 2014 to 2018, under the name Epok.In June 2018 the Norwegian Directorate of Health forced British American Tobacco Norway to remove Epok from sale or face daily fines of 150 000 NOK, due to reasons which were described as "ridiculous" by Norwegian press and politicians. The Norwegian Directorate of Health argued that since Epok didn't contain any tobacco it was a new form of nicotine product, distinct from the other forms of snus approved in Norway. New forms of nicotine products are extremely unlikely to get approved, the nicotine pouch brand ZYN had already been rejected approval twice for an extremely similar product. Within days of the ban Epok was re-introduced to the Norwegian market, with a minute amount of bleached tobacco added, to qualify as an already approved form of nicotine product. Because tobacco-free nicotine pouches were not banned there, the Epok brand was discontinued in Sweden and replaced by Lyft, an otherwise identical product that contains pine and eucalyptus fibers instead of tobacco filler. As of February 2020, Epok is still sold by Norwegian grocery stores.
