Health Minister Mark Holland stands up during a question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on April 29. The Canadian Press
Starting next week, nicotine pouches will only be available for purchase behind pharmacy counters in Canada, following a new directive from Health Minister Mark Holland. This move is part of an effort to curb the sale of these products to minors and tackle their rising use among children.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Mark Holland is set to issue a ministerial order that will restrict the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies only. This order will also ban all flavours except mint and menthol. The new rules will come into effect after a six-month grace period, during which manufacturers will need to update their packaging to include warnings about nicotine addiction and avoid designs that might attract children. Additionally, marketing these products as anything other than smoking cessation aids will be prohibited.
Holland emphasized the need for these changes by pointing out that flavoured nicotine pouches like Berry Frost and Tropical Breeze would be removed from shelves. He expressed his hope that these regulations would help curb the use of nicotine pouches among youth and ensure that these products serve their intended purpose—to assist people in quitting smoking.
Nicotine pouches, such as Zonnic by Imperial Tobacco, were approved by Health Canada last year as a smoking cessation aid. However, these products have increasingly found their way into the hands of minors, leading to concerns about their impact on youth health. Unlike traditional smoking cessation aids, which are designed for adults, nicotine pouches have been marketed with a lifestyle appeal that has attracted younger users.
Imperial Tobacco has criticized the new regulations, arguing that they unfairly target its products while leaving unregulated alternatives available online. The company’s vice-president, Eric Gagnon, argued that these restrictions could hinder adults trying to quit smoking and drive them towards illegal products. Despite this, Imperial Tobacco has pledged to comply with the new rules.
In response to these concerns, Holland is exploring additional measures to prevent illegal nicotine products from entering the market. He aims to avoid a repeat of the vaping crisis, where widespread use among non-smokers has led to significant health issues.
The new restrictions have received praise from health advocates. The Canadian Cancer Society and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada support the move, noting that it will prevent children from accessing these products at convenience stores. Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, highlighted the importance of removing these products from places where children frequently shop.
However, convenience store owners have expressed frustration with the new regulations. Kenny Shim, owner of Busy Bee Mart in Toronto, and other members of the United Korean Canadian Industry Alliance and the Ontario Korean Business Association have argued that convenience stores are well-placed to guide adult smokers toward cessation products. They have called for alternative measures to protect youth without moving nicotine pouches to pharmacies.
Anne Kothawala, president of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada, also criticized the decision, suggesting it might benefit organized crime more than legal retailers. Nonetheless, Health Minister Holland has assured that other smoking cessation products, such as gums and lozenges, will remain available in convenience stores.
