Legislation & policy

Jessica Polfjärd and Jörgen Warnborn, Members of the European Parliament, publicly express their concerns about the ongoing public consultation on revising the legislative framework for tobacco control.

The Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea, has recently re-evaluated its classification of nicotine pouches, determining that they are no longer considered medicinal products unless marketed explicitly for medicinal purposes or proven to be typically used as such. 

The Czech Republic is considering extending its legislation on tobacco products and e-cigarettes to include nicotine pouches. All friends of nicotine pouches should welcome the Czech initiative.

The Belgium government is proceeding with its intentions to ban nicotine pouches, prompting questions as to why the country doesn’t allow for safer nicotine products to play a bigger role in the work towards a smoke-free generation. 

The Dutch government is proposing a ban on the sale of nicotine pouches. While nicotine pouches should be regulated, a complete ban is misguided and could cause harm since it would remove a risk-reduced nicotine alternative from the market.

Are you ready for a hefty tax increase on your favourite nicotine pouches? It’s on the cards, as the European Commission is considering revising the EU’s tobacco excise directive and implementing a minimum level of taxation across the EU for these products.

Iceland recently adopted new legislation regarding nicotine products. This new law includes regulations on marketing, licensing, and product requirements. While these regulations are generally welcomed, some parts of the regulation lack a consumer perspective. The European Union should consider this perspective when revising its own Tobacco Products Directive.

Due to the rapid growth of new products, technological developments, and market changes, the European Commission is evaluating the legislative framework for tobacco control from the first quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. And shortly, the European Commission is expected to present its proposal for a new Tobacco Excise Directive.

There are strong indications that nicotine pouches will be regulated or at least considered when the European Union revises its Tobacco Product Directive. Will EU legislators and EU countries understand the harm reduction potential of nicotine pouches when deciding how to regulate them?

The Czech Republic took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2022. While the Czechs will need to carry the EU through an energy crisis, a war in Ukraine, and galloping inflation, they will also have a six-month window to shape public health policies.