GINN is dedicated to serving as the responsible voice of the novel nicotine industry and a leading advocate for nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and other emerging reduced-risk products. Our commitment to setting clear, evidence-based principles ensures that members operate with the highest standards of integrity, safety, and responsibility, helping more adult smokers transition to less harmful alternatives.
The following commitments apply to all GINN members involved in the manufacturing, import, sale, or distribution of novel nicotine products. These principles outline obligations in the following areas:
- Youth Access Prevention
- Regulatory Compliance
- Product Quality and Composition
- Packaging and Design
- Flavor Naming
- Marketing and Advertising
- Environmental Responsibility
- Consumer Sales Practices
- Consumer and Public Education
Recognizing that nicotine products—including combustibles, vapes, heat-not-burn, and oral pouches—are intended exclusively for adult consumers, GINN supports these products’ potential in harm reduction and smoking cessation. Members acknowledge their responsibility to lead the sector responsibly, particularly where novel nicotine products are regulated differently than combustible tobacco and vapes.
GINN advocates for effective and enforceable regulations ensuring nicotine products are accessible only to legal-age adults. In markets lacking minimum-age control laws, GINN’s position is unequivocal: no nicotine product should be sold, marketed, or targeted to individuals under the legal age as defined by local law.
Members are committed to preventing underage access to nicotine products, ensuring that their business practices, marketing, and regulatory engagements reflect this commitment. Non-compliance with GINN’s youth access policies results in membership termination.
1. Regulatory Compliance:
- Members will engage proactively with regulatory authorities, adhere to all local regulations, particularly those protecting youth and the environment, and work to eliminate counterfeit products.
- Members must report unethical industry practices to relevant authorities.
2. Product Quality and Composition:
- Members uphold the highest product quality, manufacturing, and safety standards.
- Products must contain only nicotine (or nicotine salts) and approved substances, excluding any ingredients implying health benefits, addictive substances other than nicotine, caffeine, taurine, or other non-nicotine stimulants.
3. Responsible Packaging and Product Design:
- Packaging must avoid designs or imagery that could appeal to individuals under the legal age and should not resemble toys, games, or incorporate gaming elements.
4. Appropriate Flavor Naming:
- Flavors and descriptors must be age-appropriate, with no appeal to individuals under the legal age.
5. Ethical Marketing Practices:
- Marketing and advertising must target legal-age adults exclusively and refrain from themes appealing to those underage.
- Responsible use of social media should focus on adult audiences, avoiding influencers whose content is directed toward individuals under the legal age.
6. Environmental Stewardship:
- Members commit to environmentally responsible practices, including proper disposal and recycling of nicotine products and promoting eco-friendly operations.
7. Fair Consumer Sales Practices:
- Members will conduct transparent, ethical sales with clear pricing, product information, and robust age-verification systems to prevent purchases by underage individuals.
8. Consumer and Public Education:
- Members support GINN’s educational initiatives, providing accurate information about product use, potential health risks, and benefits in harm reduction.
- Members collaborate with healthcare professionals, academics, and consumer advocates to promote informed, responsible product use.
