In Canada, the handling of nic pouches has turned into a debacle, highlighting systemic failures across various stakeholders. Previously, Health Canada displayed a negative stance towards nic pouches, considering them as threats and advising against their use.
However, after extensive deliberation, in July 2023 Health Canada authorized the sale of NPs brand Zonnic, for smoking cessation. This marked a significant shift in policy, acknowledging the potential benefits of nic pouches in reducing smoking rates.
Unfortunately, Zonnic’s classification as a natural health product allowed its sale without a legal minimum age requirement, leading to concerns about youth access. Moreover, marketing efforts by Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN) on social media platforms like Instagram, with visuals depicting young adults using NPs in various social settings, further fuelled the controversy surrounding the product.
As a result, public health groups including the Canadian Cancer Society, condemned Health Canada’s decision, emphasizing the potential risks to youth while neglecting the benefits of nice pouches for smoking cessation. Calls were made for stricter regulations, including classifying nic pouches as prescription-only or suspending sales altogether.
Provincial governments responded by imposing restrictions, such as limiting sales to pharmacies, to prevent youth access. However, these measures also hindered adult smokers’ access to a safer alternative. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland expressed strong support for provincial actions and proposed a national legislation to restrict the sale and advertising of nic pouches. Plans included banning flavours deemed attractive to youth, despite the evidence suggesting that flavour variety aids smoking cessation efforts.
Why is everyone suddenly panicking about nic pouches?
The controversy surrounding nic pouches highlighted failures at multiple levels, including Health Canada’s delayed response, ITCAN’s marketing missteps, and public health groups’ narrow focus on youth risks. As always, media sensationalism made the situation worse, overshadowing the potential benefits for adult smokers.
Ultimately, the uproar may have increased awareness of nic pouches among Canadian smokers. However, stringent regulations threaten to limit access to a harm reduction tool that could significantly improve public health outcomes.
In the US, following months of negative press, not only have nic pouches gained a new, bad reputation, but also a lawsuit directed at Philip Morris’ Zyn brand. This wave of panic about NPs seems to be a case of “fear of the unknown” and/or “resistance to change” brought about by the commercialization of the products and subsequent significant increase in their use across the US and Canada. As always, the media pick up on people’s fears and magnify them in order to create a sensation and attract readers/followers.
Source:https://www.vapingpost.com/