Representatives of government bodies, business and public society insist on legislative regulation of the circulation and content of nicotine in pouches.

This was reported by participants in an expert discussion held at the Ukrinform news agency on the topic: “Introduction of regulation of the level of nicotine content in nicotine pads (pouches): the role of the State Food and Consumer Service in the process of ensuring the consumer’s right to product safety,” Ukrainian News reported..

The event was attended by representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, international experts, and representatives of the public.

During the discussion, Chairman of the State Food and Consumer Service Sergei Tkachuk noted that currently there is an urgent need for legislative regulation of the circulation and/or content of nicotine in pouches.

“There is an EU directive that contains recommendations for establishing nicotine content... it is necessary to initiate settlement issues in this area,” added Sergei Tkachuk.

He also added that over the past year, the State Food and Consumer Service received 8 detailed complaints about poisoning of consumers with spiders due to the excessive nicotine content in them (more than 100 mg).

" There are no restrictions (nicotine content), so there must be government regulation,"

In turn, the representative of the Ministry of Health also noted the need for legislative regulation of this issue.

“An adequate scenario here is when the country begins to regulate this phenomenon at the legislative level,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Health – Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Igor Kuzin.

Chairman of the VOII "

Voznyuk also added: “The lack of legislative regulation of pouches with excessive nicotine content will lead to the expenditure of state budget funds (taxpayers) on treatment of the consequences.”.

Representatives of the Verkhovna Rada agreed with him and noted that today the nicotine content in pouches is not regulated at all and can reach up to 100 mg in one pouch.

Their opinion is shared by representatives of business associations, who highlighted several aspects of resolving this issue, including: introducing a separate category of nicotine pouches in the legislation; establish quality standards and nicotine content of no more than 20 mg, which, according to research, does not have a toxic effect on health.

Legislators present at the discussion noted that the handling and/or content of nicotine in pouches requires immediate legislative regulation in the near future.

Deputies reported that there are currently several bills in the Verkhovna Rada regarding the circulation of such products. In particular, one of them contains standards for the nicotine content in such products at the level of 20 mg per unit of product, which corresponds to the practice of European countries.

We would like to remind you that at the end of 2024, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Medical Insurance, Mikhail Radutsky, said that in 2025 a law will appear in Ukraine regulating the maximum nicotine content in nicotine pads (pouches).