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Tag: pouches

  • S. Africa Exempts Smokeless Tobacco from New Regs

    S. Africa Exempts Smokeless Tobacco from New Regs

    South Africa’s Department of Health plans to exempt non-combustible and smokeless tobacco products such as snus, chewing tobacco, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes from key provisions of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, according to Times Live. Deputy Director-General Jeanette Hunter said the exemption reflects their lower toxic profile, though rules will still restrict misleading claims, shapes, and descriptors to protect children.

    Parliamentary debate raised cultural and enforcement concerns, with the African Transformation Movement’s Vuyo Zungula calling for clear exemptions for traditional snuff use, and Freedom Front Plus’ Philippus van Staden citing limited law enforcement and border controls. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi clarified that cultural use of combustible tobacco is rare, while Hunter highlighted that smoking remains prohibited in public spaces, with compliance largely enforced by public awareness rather than police presence.

  • Lucy Goods Settles S.F. Pouch Case for $1M

    Lucy Goods Settles S.F. Pouch Case for $1M

    San Francisco secured a $1 million settlement with online tobacco retailer Lucy Goods, Inc., requiring the company to stop shipping flavored nicotine products into the city, City Attorney David Chiu announced yesterday (January 8). The settlement stems from a 2024 lawsuit alleging that several online retailers violated San Francisco’s comprehensive flavored tobacco ban by selling flavored nicotine pouches directly to city residents.

    Under the stipulated judgment and injunction entered by San Francisco Superior Court this week, Lucy Goods must pay $1 million in civil penalties and attorneys’ fees, prohibit the use of San Francisco addresses in shipping or billing fields, and post clear notices on its website stating that flavored tobacco products cannot be sold in the city. The agreement follows earlier settlements with Rogue Holdings LLC, Swisher International Inc., and Northerner Scandinavia Inc., bringing total penalties from the case to nearly $4 million.

    San Francisco banned all flavored tobacco products in 2019, including nicotine pouches, citing evidence that flavors increase youth appeal and addiction risk.

  • Bangladesh Bans Vapes, Tightens Tobacco Laws

    Bangladesh Bans Vapes, Tightens Tobacco Laws

    Bangladesh’s interim government issued an ordinance banning e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products, significantly tightening the country’s tobacco control regime. The Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, promulgated on December 31, expands the definition of tobacco to include electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, bringing them under a single legal framework. Smoking and the use of all tobacco products are now prohibited in all public places and on public transport, with fines raised to a maximum of Tk 2,000 ($16.40).

    The ordinance makes the production, import, export, storage, sale, and use of e-cigarettes and similar products criminal offences, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, fines of up to Tk 500,000 ($4,100), or both. It also introduces a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship across all media, prohibits tobacco displays at points of sale, and bans sales within 100 meters of schools, hospitals and playgrounds. Packaging rules have been tightened to require health warnings covering at least 75% of packs, while enforcement powers have been strengthened to allow license cancellations, seizures, and criminal prosecutions.

  • France Suspends Decree Banning Nicotine Pouches

    France Suspends Decree Banning Nicotine Pouches

    France’s Council of State suspended a government decree that would have banned the manufacture, sale, and export of nicotine pouches from April 2026, pending a full legal review. The decision follows a challenge by EVLB Group, which argued the decree violated EU free trade rules and gave manufacturers insufficient time to reorganize operations. The court agreed, ruling that companies should have been granted a longer transition period and suspending the decree until a final judgment, expected by June 2026.

    The Council of State noted, however, that the marketing of nicotine pouches is already prohibited under France’s Public Health Code outside pharmaceutical use, meaning the suspension is unlikely to change current retail conditions. The Health Ministry said it takes note of the ruling and emphasized that the ban on marketing and possession remains in effect for now, while industry groups welcomed the pause as an opportunity for a more thorough review of the products.

  • Zyn Launches 1.5 Mg Option in UK

    Zyn Launches 1.5 Mg Option in UK

    Zyn launched Zyn X-Low, its lowest-strength nicotine pouch at 1.5mg, positioning it as an entry-level option for adult users new to the category, according to Talking Retail. The product expands Zyn’s UK and Ireland portfolio and is available in spearmint, black cherry, and cool mint via grocery, convenience, and wholesale channels, including Philip Morris’ Open retailer platform.

    “Expanding the range in this way allows us to meet a broader spectrum of adult nicotine preferences, strengthen the role of modern oral products in the marketplace, and further our ambition of achieving a smoke-free future,” said Dor Matot, head of Zyn UK and Ireland.

    The launch is backed by a nationwide marketing campaign aimed at highlighting strength choice and attracting first-time pouch users.

  • Queensland Shuts 148 Stores, Seizes $10.4M in 10-Day Blitz

    Queensland Shuts 148 Stores, Seizes $10.4M in 10-Day Blitz

    Queensland authorities closed 148 stores and seized more than A$15.7 million ($10.4 million) worth of illegal smoking products in a 10-day enforcement operation that ended last week. Dubbed Operation Major, the blitz targeted illicit cigarettes, loose tobacco, vapes, vaping liquids, and nicotine pouches, resulting in the confiscation of 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tons of loose tobacco, 87,000 vapes, 4.2 liters of vaping liquid, and 270,000 nicotine pouches.

    The closures were executed under new laws allowing Queensland Health to shut stores for 90 days without a court order. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the operation demonstrates the state’s commitment to cracking down on illegal tobacco and vaping products, warning that black-market operators will be aggressively pursued.

    Theo Foukkare, CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, welcomed the move but noted that illicit traders are shifting online due to federal inaction on illegal tobacco. He emphasized the need for coordinated national measures to redirect consumers to the regulated market.

  • OTP Driving Q3 Growth for U.S. Convenience Retailers

    OTP Driving Q3 Growth for U.S. Convenience Retailers

    Other tobacco products (OTP) continued to deliver strong performance for major U.S. convenience-store operators in the third quarter of 2025, according to earnings reports from Arko Corp., Murphy USA, and CrossAmerica Partners.

    According to CSP, Arko Corp. CEO Arie Kotler reported OTP sales up 16% year over year, with same-store sales rising 6.6% and category margins improving by more than 300 basis points, driven by store redesigns and enhanced promotions. CrossAmerica Partners also cited OTP as a key contributor to its higher merchandise gross margin, which grew by about 100 basis points. Meanwhile, Murphy USA highlighted strong gains in traditional smokeless and nicotine pouch sales. CEO Andrew Clyde said total merchandise margins rose 11.3%, while COO Mindy West noted nicotine pouch volumes surged 45%, jumping to 120% of prior-year levels in October through aggressive promotions.

  • UK Public Strongly Backs Regulation of Nicotine Pouches, Survey Finds

    UK Public Strongly Backs Regulation of Nicotine Pouches, Survey Finds

    A new survey from Northerner UK found that the British public overwhelmingly supports stricter regulation of nicotine pouches and stronger safeguards for young people overall, as the government prepares to advance the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. According to the survey, 84% of respondents want the government to introduce new rules governing nicotine pouches, aligning their regulation with that of cigarettes and vapes. A further 82% support a licensing scheme for vape sales, while 81% back age restrictions on social media, and 75% approve of mandatory ID checks for online pornography.

    Markus Lindblad, head of external affairs at Northerner, said the results show strong alignment between the public, government, and responsible retailers.

    “At the moment, a legal loophole means that there is no minimum age limit on the purchase of nicotine pouches, and this has been exploited by unscrupulous retailers,” Lindblad said. “This survey shows that the public wants action, and there is strong support for the government’s move to close this loophole through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”

  • FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to fast-track reviews of nicotine pouches from Philip Morris International, Altria, Reynolds American, and Turning Point Brands in a pilot program launching Monday, according to Reuters. According to transcripts of an agency meeting last Friday, the agency aims to complete assessments by December, providing a quicker path to market for products like Zyn, on!, Velo, Fre, and Alp. The initiative comes amid pressure from the Trump administration to accelerate approvals and streamline the review process for the fastest-growing category of U.S. tobacco alternatives.

    The pilot program will reportedly feature reduced and expedited reviews, more frequent communication between FDA staff and companies, and a focus on essential scientific and safety data, including product characterization, manufacturing consistency, and abuse-liability information. For products already on the market without full authorization, the process could remove uncertainty over legality and potential enforcement actions. Tobacco firms have long lobbied for a faster FDA authorization route, noting that lengthy reviews have allowed competitors to capture market share in the meantime.

    “Adult nicotine and tobacco consumers are increasingly seeking nicotine pouches as a smoke-free alternative, and the industry is rapidly growing in response,” said Laura Leigh Oyler, vice president of U.S. Regulatory Affairs at Haypp Group, who will be speaking at GTNF 2025 in Brussels on the U.S. regulatory landscape. “These consumers deserve a marketplace of FDA-reviewed product choices to support their journey away from more harmful products. 

    “It makes sense that our government should also work to meet the demands of citizens, supporting a regulatory regime that quickly reviews well-designed and well-tested products from responsible and compliant manufacturers. This is a positive step not just for the regulator and the regulated industry, but for the millions of American adults looking for products they can trust.”

  • OTP Growth Hits 2.6% for Major Retailer

    OTP Growth Hits 2.6% for Major Retailer


    Arko Corp., one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesale fuel in the U.S., reported strong second-quarter results in its Other Tobacco Products (OTP) segment, with sales up 2.6% and margins rising 170 basis points. CEO Arie Kotler credited expanded assortments, better merchandising, and refreshed “back bars” in nearly 1,000 GPM Investments stores.

    OTP—including cigars, smokeless tobacco, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco—now accounts for 10% of store assortment, with margins on par with cigarettes, according to Arko’s executive vice president and CFO Robert Giammatteo.