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Revealed Mar 20, 2024 • 3 minute learn
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OTTAWA — Well being Minister Mark Holland promised a serious crackdown on nicotine pouches Wednesday, and issued a stern warning to tobacco firms he says are advertising and marketing the pouches to kids.
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Holland accused Imperial Tobacco of exploiting a loophole to get Well being Canada approval for its oral nicotine pouch by branding it as an assist to stop smoking. The approval didn’t include a minimal age restrict.
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He charged that the product is now getting used to hook a brand new era on nicotine.
“I might say to the tobacco firms that proceed to search for methods to make use of loopholes to addict individuals to their merchandise, get away, keep the hell away from our youngsters,” Holland mentioned at a press convention Wednesday.
Holland has written to provinces about his plans to limit entry to the product, known as Zonnic, in addition to the flavours and advertising and marketing that can be utilized.
Zonnic is the one oral pouch accepted as nicotine substitute remedy in Canada, and comprises 4 milligrams of nicotine. It is available in flavours together with berry frost and tropic breeze, and is designed to be positioned underneath the higher lip so nicotine may be absorbed via the gums.
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“To me, it’s completely important that we see these merchandise transfer behind counter,” Holland mentioned.
Quebec and British Columbia have already moved to place flavoured nicotine pouches behind the counter at pharmacies, so that individuals must seek the advice of a pharmacist to entry them.
Holland pledged to maintain the pouches out of the arms of youngsters.
“No matter darkish nook the tobacco business crawls and creeps into to go after our youngsters, wherever they go, no matter loophole they assume they’ll discover, they’ll meet me like an iron wall,” Holland vowed.
Imperial Tobacco mentioned it has not exploited any loopholes to get Zonnic in the marketplace, and that it merely utilized to Well being Canada and obtained approval.
The corporate mentioned it feels the minister is ignoring different authorized nicotine merchandise, in addition to pouches in the marketplace that aren’t regulated.
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“To single out Zonnic for practices which can be widespread throughout the business just isn’t solely unfair but in addition smacks of hypocrisy, suggesting an anti-tobacco firm bias quite than a real concern for public well being,” mentioned Eric Gagnon, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada.
The corporate is open to speaking in regards to the restrictions Holland raised, he mentioned, however he believes these adjustments ought to apply to all merchandise used to stop smoking, together with nicotine gum.
The corporate has already revised its advertising and marketing of the product and moved to place the product behind the counter in comfort shops and different locations the product is bought, despite the fact that it’s not required by regulation, Gagnon mentioned.
Nevertheless, he mentioned he believes the product needs to be accessible anyplace cigarettes are bought. He mentioned he additionally believes flavours make the pouches extra engaging as a quitting instrument for individuals who smoke.
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Well being Canada issued a client security alert in regards to the pouches Wednesday to warn individuals to make use of them solely as directed, and solely as an alternative choice to smoking.
“They shouldn’t be used recreationally, by non-smokers, by individuals underneath the age of 18, or by others prone to nicotine’s poisonous results,” the alert mentioned.
A number of teams that advocate for tobacco management applauded the minister’s plan Wednesday.
“First it was cigarettes. Then it was vaping. Now it’s nicotine pouches that danger addicting an entire new era,” Doug Roth, chief government of Coronary heart & Stroke, mentioned in a press release. Holland labored for Coronary heart & Stroke between 2011 and 2015.
“We’re thrilled that Minister Holland is taking steps to cease this cycle and defend youth.”
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