In an egregious example of bureaucratic overreach, a controversial plan to ban nicotine pouches, among other things, has been leaked from an EU Commission report.
“The European Commission position is completely detached from reality," said Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at online nicotine products retailer, Haypp. "Several of the proposals would destroy the tobacco harm reduction strategies of many countries. The Commission is pushing crazy proposals such as a complete ban on nicotine pouches and a ban on any flavours in nicotine products. Smoking rates have declined rapidly in Sweden and the UK precisely because nicotine users in these countries have access to alternatives such as nicotine pouches and vapes. Proposing a total ban on nicotine pouches or flavourings makes absolutely no sense.”
Controversial Plan to Ban Nicotine Pouches Revealed
A leak from the European Commission reveals plans to push a very aggressive position at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) during COP11 in Switzerland this November. The proposed measures in this draft position paper extend far beyond the recommendations from the FCTC Secretariat itself and could have a devastating impact on anti-smoking strategies across Europe.
Summary of the Leak
Sources within the EU Commission report that the package being prepared for presentation at COP11 includes several controversial proposals:
- A total ban on nicotine pouches.
- A flavour ban covering all tobacco and nicotine products.
- New environmental regulations, including bans on filters (even biodegradable ones) and single-use plastics.
- Restrictions on comparative claims, prohibiting ingredient or emission comparisons between products and therefore limiting consumer information.
The proposals represent more than technical policy changes; they would have serious implications for public health policy. The UK, alongside Sweden and New Zealand, has achieved significant reductions in smoking rates through making risk-reducing products such as vapes and nicotine pouches available to nicotine users. However, the current proposal by the European Commission may overlook these achievements in favour of blunt prohibitions.
What are the next steps?
The proposal is anticipated to be presented at COP11 in Switzerland this November. The EU’s position will be discussed and negotiated by health ministers from the member states. Decisive action by member states will be necessary to ensure that some of the most effective tools for reducing smoking rates are not regulated out of existence by the European Commission.