The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report raising significant concerns about the potential health risks of nicotine pouches, prompting a mixed reaction from health experts in the UK. The report, titled 'WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation Report on the Scientific Basis of Tobacco Product Regulation: Ninth Report of a WHO Study Group', highlights issues such as addiction potential, harm to adolescent brain development, and the presence of carcinogens and heavy metals in some products. It calls for stringent regulation to mitigate these risks, particularly regarding marketing and accessibility to young people.
Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Assistant Professor of Health Behaviours at the University of Oxford, commented on the WHO's findings. She acknowledged the importance of robust regulation for all nicotine products and agreed that clear communication about their relative harms is crucial. However, Dr Hartmann-Boyce also stressed that nicotine pouches are considerably less harmful than traditional combustible cigarettes. She highlighted that for smokers unable or unwilling to quit nicotine entirely, switching to less harmful alternatives like pouches could offer public health benefits. This perspective aligns with a harm reduction approach, which aims to minimise the negative health consequences of drug use.
The report's emphasis on the risks to adolescents and non-smokers has resonated with UK experts. There is a shared concern that the appealing flavours and discreet nature of nicotine pouches could attract young people and individuals who have never smoked, potentially leading to nicotine addiction. This underscores a delicate balance for regulators: providing less harmful alternatives for adult smokers while preventing the initiation of nicotine use among non-smokers, especially minors.
Professor Lion Shahab, Professor of Health Psychology at University College London, added that while the WHO report correctly identifies potential risks, it is essential to contextualise these within the broader landscape of tobacco and nicotine products. He reiterated that the primary concern remains combustible tobacco, which is responsible for millions of deaths globally. Professor Shahab called for an evidence-based approach to regulation that differentiates between the varying levels of harm across nicotine products, ensuring that policies support public health without inadvertently driving smokers back to more dangerous options.
The current regulatory landscape in the UK for nicotine pouches is less stringent than for e-cigarettes, which are subject to the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR). This discrepancy has led to calls for a review to ensure that nicotine pouches are regulated appropriately, covering aspects such as product safety, ingredient disclosure, marketing restrictions, and age verification for sales. The long-term health effects of nicotine pouch use are still being researched, and experts agree that more comprehensive studies are needed to fully understand their impact.
This ongoing discussion highlights the complex challenge facing public health bodies: how to regulate emerging nicotine products to protect vulnerable populations while simultaneously offering pathways for smokers to reduce their harm. The WHO's report serves as a timely reminder of the need for vigilance and evidence-informed policy-making in this rapidly evolving market.
Source: Science Media Centre