Extracts below and a comment from me. Full text: https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-demands-regulation-nicotine-pouches/
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to strictly regulate nicotine pouches to prevent an imminent epidemic among vulnerable adolescents. These highly addictive products threaten to dismantle decades of global progress in tobacco control if left completely unchecked, health officials warn...
Only 32 countries and territories, including Canada and Colombia, actively regulate nicotine pouches, while 16 more have banned their sale. Conversely, roughly 160 states currently lack specific regulatory frameworks.
This legislative void enables manufacturers to deploy aggressive marketing tactics with sleek packaging, vast social media influencer campaigns, and candy-inspired flavours without restriction. Digital algorithms promote these deceptive products across platforms heavily frequented by teenagers.
“With nicotine pouches, tobacco companies have added a new item to their menu of addiction,” explained Jorge Alday, director of STOP at Vital Strategies, in a statement to Health Policy Watch, commenting on the report...
To mitigate risks and reduce addiction among adolescents, the WHO insists that policymakers establish strict flavour bans that specifically target youth-oriented options, such as bubble gum and alcohol-inspired varieties like Mojito, Cosmo, and Gin & Tonic. Furthermore, comprehensive advertising restrictions must explicitly prohibit the use of social media influencers and sports sponsorships...
“These products are engineered for addiction, and there is a strong need to protect our youth from industry manipulation,” underscored Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention at the WHO.
COMMENT (NPW): Indeed the tobacco, alcohol and (to some extent) the pharmaceutical industry make their profits largely by making their products attractive and addictive (or at least dependent). For tobacco products we see 'sleek packaging, vast social media influencer campaigns, and candy-inspired flavours'.
'While direct long term data are lacking, the known adverse cardiovascular pharmacology of nicotine, combined with the high exposure potential from pouches and the unique vulnerability of the developing adolescent cardiovascular and nervous systems, creates a strong basis for concern.' https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12675456/
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org