In Ukraine, nicotine snus (pouches) can be purchased just as easily as chewing gum. They are even sold legally to children. Why is a product that causes a persistent addiction so freely available, and how can this problem be solved? We explore these questions with experts.
Nicotine snus is a pouch containing nicotine, flavorings, and additives designed for rapid absorption, which is placed under the lip. Tobacco companies typically classify it as a food product, which is why minors have unrestricted access to it.
The main problem lies in a legal vacuum. In Ukraine, there are still no age restrictions, labeling requirements, or advertising bans regarding nicotine snus. At the same time, some pouches contain extremely high doses of nicotine—20 to 50 times higher, or even more, than in cigarette smoke. In most EU countries, such products are already banned or strictly regulated.
“Nicotine snus poses a dangerous threat to children that is difficult for parents and teachers to detect in time. The industry is using new nicotine products to lure young people into severe addiction. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine must immediately introduce regulations or ban nicotine snus to protect the health of an entire generation of Ukrainian children,” emphasizes Dmytro Kupyra, program director of the NGO “Life.”
According to the World Health Organization, most smokers first tried nicotine before the age of 18. At the same time, 36% of young consumers in Ukraine use several products simultaneously: snus, vapes, and tobacco sticks. This leads to rapid and severe addiction.
What is the solution?
Bill No. 14110-d, which provides for a direct ban on the sale of nicotine snus to minors, restrictions on nicotine content, a complete ban on advertising, and mandatory health warnings covering 65% of the packaging.
Our children are the future of the country, not a target for the tobacco industry.