On World No Tobacco Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Chronicle issued a strong call for governments to ban all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine pouches. Their rationale is clear: flavours like bubblegum, cotton candy, and menthol are being used to attract youth and…
By Rohan Pike, GINN Focal Point on Anti-Illicit Trade As the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves toward implementation, independent retailers are bracing for the fallout—not from enforcement, but from the lack of it. The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has sounded the alarm: small stores are already struggling to survive, and without proper…
Across Europe, the idea of a “smoke-free generation” is gaining traction among lawmakers. Proposed policies seek to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after a certain year—effectively making smoking illegal for future generations. While these proposals may appear to be a bold public health move, they are increasingly coming under scrutiny for…
The recent French ban on nicotine pouches has triggered a wave of backlash from harm reduction advocates, public health experts, and industry stakeholders. With punitive penalties and sweeping restrictions, the law represents one of the most stringent measures on nicotine alternatives seen in Europe. However, the story is still unfolding—and resistance is mounting. Industry Backlash…
France’s recent law banning nicotine pouches has become one of the most extreme regulatory actions taken against novel nicotine products in Europe. The ban, passed with limited parliamentary debate, criminalizes the sale, possession, and use of nicotine pouches, regardless of product formulation or age of the user. 🔴 Harsh Penalties Mirror Criminal Offenses According to…
Poland’s Ministry of Health is advancing legislation to ban flavoured nicotine pouches and disposable vape products, aiming to curb youth uptake and reduce nicotine experimentation among non-smokers. The draft bill, expected to pass given the ruling coalition’s parliamentary majority, would limit pouch flavours to tobacco-only options. A Broader European Trend Poland’s move aligns with a…
As the European nicotine landscape continues to evolve, Poland has become the latest member state to advance a national regulatory framework for nicotine pouches. The proposed law—now progressing through parliamentary stages—seeks to impose restrictions aimed at protecting youth while introducing much-needed clarity to a category that has, until now, operated in a regulatory grey area.…
Reports have emerged that the European Commission may be preparing a significant tax increase on safer nicotine alternatives—including nicotine pouches and vaping products—by mid-2025. Though not yet confirmed, the leaked plans have stirred concern across industry and public health stakeholders, particularly as EU Tax Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has recently been touring member state capitals seeking…
In the fast-evolving landscape of nicotine products, a silent threat is gaining momentum across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): illicit nicotine pouches. While this product category is still relatively new to the region, its rapid growth—especially in Saudi Arabia—has created both success stories and serious challenges. A Promising Start, Followed by Illicit Surge…
Governments often turn to taxation as a lever to reduce public health risks, curb nicotine use, and generate revenue. In principle, that makes sense. But having seen Australia’s approach firsthand—as a former Australian Federal Police officer and founder of the Tobacco Strike Team—I can tell you this: when taxation goes too far, the consequences are…