Czech Health Ministry Plans to Regulate Nicotine Pouches

According to a report from Radio Prague International, the Czech Ministry of Health is developing regulations to classify nicotine pouches as tobacco products for regulation purposes.

Currently, nicotine pouches are not regulated in the Czech Republic. "We are aware of the issues that this is causing," said Ondřej Jakob, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health. "We are in the process of developing legislation to determine the properties, labeling, and regulation of this product. We are also studying amendments to existing laws.

According to Jakob, the new regulation may come into effect in a few months.

Health activists are expressing concerns over the growing popularity of nicotine pouches in the Czech Republic, particularly among young people. Marek Lžičař, an addiction expert at St. Anne's Hospital in Brno, has stated that children can develop addictions to these products in just a few weeks.

He stated, "The risk of addiction is significant for anyone, whether they are children or adults, and should not be downplayed. This is a risky behavior that could potentially lead to the use of other tobacco products. It could also lead to the use of softer or harder drugs.

Experts believe that the increasing use of addictive substances among children is due to the prolonged social isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Tobacco Reporter