The topic of nicotine pouches has surfaced repeatedly in recent months, particularly as their use has increased among minors. Since the start of the year, discussions about regulating these products have become more concrete, and this week, the responsible parliamentary committee tackled the subject, presenting a plan.
Nicotine pouches are consumed by placing them between the lips and gums, requiring neither a lighter nor a vape for the desired nicotine kick. This ease of use has contributed to their popularity. However, Luxembourg lags behind in terms of regulation. While the predecessor of nicotine pouches, known as Snus, which contains tobacco, was banned long ago, the white nicotine version has become particularly popular among minors.
Margot Heirendt, director of the Cancer Foundation, expressed serious concerns. She noted that in some places, nicotine pouches were simply distributed to young people, which she described as "an outrage." Heirendt also reported that primary and secondary school teachers have observed students using nicotine pouches in class. The Cancer Foundation is particularly worried about this trend.
Each pouch contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine, roughly ten times the dosage found in a cigarette, though the concentration can vary significantly by producer. This week, MPs in the responsible parliamentary committee reviewed a proposal to regulate these products.
Minister of Health Martine Deprez stated that nicotine pouches will be regulated in the same way as cigarettes. The product will not be sold to customers under the age of 18, advertisements will be banned, and consumption will be restricted in certain areas, such as schools.
The Luxembourg-based producer of "white Snus," a subsidiary of Heintz van Landewyck, has welcomed the general regulation of the high-dosage products. The company has been producing the pouches in Luxembourg for the past two years.
Georges Krombach, Chief Commercial Officer of Heintz van Landewyck, emphasised the importance of keeping nicotine pouches out of the hands of minors. He noted that Snus, "a global trend," is widely available online and in neighbouring countries such as France and Germany. Krombach advocated for strict regulation of nicotine content and product availability, as well as the imposition of an excise tax. He suggested that nicotine pouches should only be sold in newsagents and tobacconists.
Under the new regulation, the nicotine content will be capped at 0.048 milligrams, aligning with German food regulations for nicotine pouches. Krombach argued that this limit effectively bans the product, as a cigarette contains about 1 milligram of nicotine, and such a low limit would render nicotine pouches nonviable in Luxembourg.
While the producer claims that nicotine pouches are "significantly" less harmful than cigarettes, the Ministry of Health warns that they pose a high risk of addiction and can lead to the use of other tobacco products. Minister Deprez highlighted that the product is problematic "for everyone" due to its high nicotine content, which increases the longer the pouch is kept in the mouth, leading to addiction.
"White Snus" has been or is set to be regulated in 15 countries across the EU. However, the Luxembourg-based producer expressed regret that the government has not engaged in dialogue with the local industry. The producer warned that the current regulation could inadvertently benefit the black market.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
