Denmark to Impose Strict Nicotine Pouch Limit from July

Key Points:

1.The Danish government will implement strict limits on nicotine pouches starting in July, with the maximum concentration of nicotine pouches not to exceed 9 milligrams.

2.Experts warn that the new regulations could lead smokers to lose access to safer alternatives.

3.The new regulations may result in the ban of most existing nicotine pouches, accounting for 90% of the market.

According to Clearingtheair, the Danish government will begin implementing strict regulations on nicotine pouches in July, limiting the maximum concentration of nicotine pouches to 9 milligrams. The government plans to fully enforce this regulation in April 2026.

The Danish government has stated that this measure aims to protect children and teenagers from the harmful effects of nicotine products. Danish Minister of Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde, pointed out that nicotine pouches have become very popular among young people in recent years, and their brains are not yet fully developed and are particularly sensitive to nicotine, so it is necessary to provide special protection for teenagers.

E-cigarette advocates and anti-smoking activists warn that this strict limit could cause smokers to lose a safer alternative.

Nicotine harm reduction activist Clive Bates has expressed concerns to the Danish government that the proposed restrictions may lead to "predictable unintended consequences." He believes that while the new regulations may have limited impact on young people, they could potentially harm adults seeking higher nicotine concentrations to successfully quit smoking. Bates suggests setting a higher limit (15-20mg) to avoid triggering "harmful unintended behavioral responses," and to "establish product quality standards to protect users from contaminants and harmful ingredients.

Dr. Delon Human, an expert on harm reduction, believes that nicotine pouches are a safe alternative to help smokers quit smoking. He also points out that the new restrictions could potentially ban 90% of existing nicotine pouches, forcing many people to either revert back to tobacco products or turn to the black market.