Key Points:
- Images of suspected "Nanjing Da Guan Yuan Oral Film" product from China Tobacco Jiangsu IC circulate on social media, unverified by officials
- Product uses "Nanjing," an established China Tobacco cigarette brand, suggesting brand extension strategy
- No nicotine pouch products approved for sale in China; suspected to be test sample
- If confirmed, would be first publicly visible domestic-market nicotine pouch product from China Tobacco since January 2026 regulatory announcement
2Firsts, Feb. 9, 2026, Shenzhen
Images circulating on Chinese social media platforms appear to show a nicotine oral film product bearing the "Nanjing" brand, with packaging indicating China Tobacco Jiangsu IC as the producer. This marks the first suspected China Tobacco nicotine pouch product targeting the domestic market since the regulatory announcement in January 2026.
The product, named "Da Guan Yuan Oral Film," comes in ice mint flavor. The front features green packaging with the brand name "DA GUAN YUAN" in English. The back lists nicotine salt and food additives as primary ingredients, with an expiration date of November 17, 2026.
The packaging includes comprehensive warnings prohibiting use by minors, individuals with nicotine sensitivity, cardiovascular disease patients, pregnant or nursing women, and those with oral diseases. It displays an 18+ age restriction symbol and advises keeping the product away from children.
2Firsts has not independently verified the product's authenticity, and no official confirmation has been obtained from China Tobacco or relevant authorities. The product is not available for commercial sale in China, where no nicotine pouch products have been approved for market distribution. The images suggest the product may be a test sample.
Regulatory Background
In early January 2026, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) issued a regulatory announcement on nicotine pouches, clarifying that products meeting specific criteria—including nicotine as a primary ingredient and oral consumption without combustion—would be classified as tobacco monopoly products.
Under this regulatory framework, production, wholesale, and import of nicotine pouches require licenses from STMA, while retail operations must obtain tobacco monopoly retail licenses.
As of February 2026, no nicotine pouch products have been formally licensed for sale in the Chinese market.
Industry Significance
If confirmed, this would represent the first publicly visible nicotine pouch product developed by a Chinese state tobacco enterprise for the domestic market since the regulatory announcement. China Tobacco Jiangsu IC is a provincial subsidiary of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), the world's largest tobacco company by production volume.
Notably, the product uses the "Nanjing" brand. Nanjing is an established cigarette brand under China National Tobacco Corporation, produced by China Tobacco Jiangsu IC. This suggests that China Tobacco's future oral nicotine products for the domestic market may leverage existing cigarette brands rather than creating new brands, contrasting with international tobacco companies' typical strategy of developing separate brands for novel tobacco products.
Previously, 2Firsts reported on China Tobacco enterprises exhibiting nicotine oral products at the November 2024 Dubai tobacco exhibition, though those products primarily targeted overseas markets.
The current social media images show a product with Chinese-language packaging and domestic manufacturer information, indicating that China's state tobacco monopoly system may be exploring oral nicotine product development for the domestic market, despite the current absence of clear licensing and sales mechanisms.
For the latest developments in China's tobacco market, follow 2Firsts. More industry analysis and exclusive reports available at 2firsts or through our social media platforms.
