According to a report by the BBC on February 5th, the recent increase in the sale of illegally high-concentration nicotine pouches in the UK has sparked widespread concern.
According to statistics, the trading standards departments in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Dorset conducted over 1500 seizures in 2024. Among them, over 900 illegal nicotine pouches were seized in Oxfordshire, leading to multiple criminal investigations. In Dorset, officials conducted 844 seizures, while Windsor and Maidenhead had 21 seizures.
As these products are relatively new, there are currently no specific regulations governing their advertising, potency, or age restrictions. Instead, they fall under the General Product Safety Directive, which means that products must clearly label safety guidelines.
Most nicotine pouches contain between 6 to 20 milligrams of nicotine, but some products contain 50 milligrams. Some illegal nicotine pouches claim to contain as much as 150 milligrams of nicotine.
The UK government has announced that new legislation will prevent the promotion of nicotine products to children and has allocated £30 million for enforcement. Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) have stated that their brands such as Nordic Spirit and Velo nicotine pouches are only intended for those aged 18 and above, and they welcome stricter regulations.
The UK Department of Health and Social Security stated: "Snuff is harmful and illegal to sell in the UK. Our Tobacco and E-cigarette Act will put us on the path to a smoke-free UK and prevent the promotion of e-cigarettes and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, to children.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
