Canada’s new ban on nicotine pouches is a “deadly error” and “backward step” in the global fight against the toll of tobacco, health experts have warned.
Nicotine pouches are proven to be significantly safer alternatives to cigarettes and help millions of smokers worldwide to quit, according to global health campaign group Smoke Free Sweden.
It says the products have played a major role in dramatically reducing smoking rates in Sweden, which is now on the brink of becoming the first country to achieve official ‘smoke-free’ status.
Despite evidence proving their effectiveness as a tool to quit smoking, smokers across Canada are now banned from buying nicotine pouches outside of pharmacies. As of August 28, they are only available behind the counter of chemists, and anyone buying them must speak to a pharmacist first.
All fruit flavours have also been recalled, with only mint and tobacco flavours remaining on sale.
‘It could have fatal consequences’
Dr. Delon Human, leader of the Smoke Free Sweden campaign to replicate the Swedes’ success around the world, said: “This backward step by Canada’s lawmakers defies all international evidence and could have fatal consequences for the country’s smokers who need every assistance to escape the grip of tobacco.
“Pouches are proven to help smokers to quit and have been instrumental in the Swedes virtually eradicating smoking and reaping the remarkable public health benefits from that.
“Like Sweden, Canada should be making safer alternatives, like pouches and vapes, accessible, acceptable and affordable. Canada’s new laws are a move in the opposite direction and a deadly error.”
Sweden’s smoking rate success
Smoking rates in Sweden have plummeted by 55 per cent over the last decade, thanks to its progressive policies on alternative nicotine products.
Compared to the rest of the European Union, Sweden boasts 44 per cent fewer tobacco-related deaths, a 41 per cent lower cancer rate, and 38 per cent fewer deaths attributable to any cancer.
Recent evidence from the US reports that one third of adult vapers aged under 34 said that, if “vape product sales were restricted to tobacco flavours,” they would switch to smoking.
This demonstrates that limiting the availability of flavours in alternative nicotine products could harm public health.
