#policy

The Finnish government strengthens the control of nicotine pouches: limiting content and banning online sales.

The Finnish government is seeking to bring smokeless tobacco products - nicotine pouches - under tobacco law.

To limit the amount of nicotine in nicotine pouches, the government wants to limit the amount of nicotine in products to 20 milligrams per gram of product. In addition, the government wants to ban the online sale of nicotine pouches and limit their range of flavors to make them less attractive to young people.

In future, retailers of nicotine pouches will need a license to sell them, while importers will face restrictions, which will also require parliamentary approval of the government's plan.

Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland has pledged to crack down on nicotine pouches and issued a warning to tobacco companies that are marketing nicotine pouches to children, City News Everywhere reports.

"I say to the tobacco companies who continue to find ways to exploit loopholes to get people addicted to their products, get lost and stay away from our children," Holland said at a news conference.

He accused Imperial Tobacco of exploiting a loophole to get its oral nicotine pouch, Zonnic, approved by Health Canada and label the product as a smoking cessation aid. Health Canada's approval did not include a minimum age limit. Holland claims the product is now being used to lure another generation into becoming addicted to nicotine products.