The nicotine pouch market needs to be regulated, Sweden shows a successful example

Legislative regulation of the nicotine pouch market in Ukraine requires urgent regulation, in particular the introduction of a dosage limit of 20 mg of nicotine. This was written by Serhiy Lyamets, former editor of Ekonomichna Pravda, in his article, referring to the analysis of the experience of the EU countries, in particular Sweden, UNN reports.

"Is it necessary to regulate pachyderms? I think so. It seems that we need to choose a different formula for regulating the circulation of puts? 1-0-0-%. What exactly should it look like? This is a really good question," he writes.

According to the author, Ukraine will still have to repeat the policy used by the European Union in its regulation. Currently, puffs are legalized in the European Union, but their dosage is only partially regulated. The European Commission is already working on unifying regulations, including limiting the maximum nicotine content to 20 mg.

The author also notes that the EU's policy on tobacco addiction may soon change, and pouches may become a key element in the fight against smoking. According to the European Commission's Eurobarometer 539 study, most EU countries have used strict bans, but they have proven ineffective. For some time, the number of smokers was decreasing, but after that the decline stopped, and in some countries it even increased.

"In fact, the EU countries did not fight against smoking. They were imitating victory. They did everything to remove this problem from the public eye," writes Liamets. As an example of a successful fight against nicotine addiction, he cites the experience of Sweden, where smokers were offered safer alternatives, including puffs. "Back in 2019, the country's government set a strategic goal to be free of tobacco smoke by 2025. This goal has been achieved, unlike the rest of the EU. Sweden has succeeded thanks to its Harm minimization policy. Instead of a total ban, it means switching smokers to safer alternatives - puffs, nicotine patches, vapes, and heated tobacco," summarizes Lyamets.

In his opinion, Sweden's victory is important for political reasons. It can open the door to a change in the pan-European strategy to combat tobacco addiction. So the EU can also introduce a Harm minimization strategy.

"Sweden became the first country to be virtually smoke-free. Its harm minimization strategy could serve as an example for Ukraine," the analytical report by the Royal College of Physicians of Great Britain, cited by the author, adds.

Help

Nicotine puffs are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. They contain tobacco-free nicotine, and in doses of 8-20 mg, they are a much safer alternative to smoking, safer even than vapes. However, uncontrolled doses can cause toxic poisoning. The question remains whether Ukraine will implement European standards that will contribute to consumer safety and reduce smoking.