By Robert Sidebottom, Chair of the GINN Regulatory & Compliance Committee and Managing Director, Arcus Compliance
As the UK considers long-awaited regulatory controls for nicotine pouches under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) has formally submitted a detailed evidence-based response. This submission outlines the essential steps needed to build a responsible, proportionate and enforceable framework for one of the fastest-growing reduced-risk categories in the UK.
For too long, nicotine pouches have existed in a regulatory vacuum, a “grey market” where responsible manufacturers follow voluntary standards while non-compliant imports undermine consumer confidence. The UK now has a unique opportunity to put in place strong, credible rules that both protect public health and promote the enormous harm-reduction potential of non-combustible nicotine.
Our submission focuses on what a modern, effective system should look like: clear product standards, toxicology requirements, a 20 mg cap, responsible marketing, mandatory notification, meaningful enforcement, and a licensing model that rewards good actors while removing rogue operators from the market. These principles reflect the scientific consensus that nicotine pouches, when produced to high standards, offer a substantially safer alternative to smoking and have played a major role in reducing cigarette use in countries such as Sweden and Norway.
Acknowledging the Contribution of María del Carmen Ordóñez López
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to María del Carmen Ordóñez López, GINN’s Legal Advisor, for her expert review of this submission. Her guidance ensured the document meets the highest standards of legal clarity, regulatory consistency, and policy alignment.
Her contribution strengthened our case for proportionate, evidence-driven rules that support both consumers and legitimate industry.
Quote from María del Carmen Ordóñez López
“If the UK wants to lead on tobacco harm reduction, it must also lead on regulatory precision. A clear, science-aligned framework protects consumers, supports responsible businesses, and ensures the law differentiates between high-risk combustible products and low-risk oral nicotine. Regulation should enable harm reduction—not inadvertently suppress it.”
Her insight has been invaluable as GINN continues to advocate for policies that reflect real-world evidence instead of outdated assumptions about nicotine.
Why This Submission Matters
The UK has long been regarded as a global leader in harm reduction but with nicotine pouches now widely used and entirely unregulated, the absence of statutory standards threatens consumer trust and opens the door to non-compliant products that could undermine the category’s future.
Our submission urges policymakers to adopt a balanced approach that:
- Protects youth through clear packaging and marketing rules
- Ensures quality and toxicology standards through mandatory notification
- Supports smoking cessation by preserving adult-appropriate flavours
- Establishes a nicotine cap grounded in pharmacokinetic evidence
- Strengthens enforcement against illicit and unsafe imports
- Promotes accountability throughout the supply chain
This is a pivotal moment. The decisions taken now will determine whether nicotine pouches become a structured, responsible part of the UK’s harm-reduction strategy or remain a patchwork of unregulated products.
GINN stands ready to support the UK in building a regulatory model that reflects science, safeguards public health, and accelerates the transition away from combustible tobacco.
