SGF writes to Streeting calling for clear guidance on nicotine pouches

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has written to the UK health secretary calling for clear guidance around the sale of nicotine pouches.

The convenience store trade body has reiterated its members’ commitment to responsible retailing to Wes Streeting amid reports about illegal high-strength pouches being in circulation.

As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill works its way through the parliamentary process at Westminster, SGF has highlighted that there is currently no official guidance for retailers on best practices for selling nicotine pouches.

And it has told Streeting that, in some cases, it is “unclear which of the products entering the UK supply chain meet the high level of quality assurance which our customers rightly expect”.

SFG, which is clear in its position that nicotine pouches are an important adult smoking cessation device and should never be marketed or sold to children, says that tackling the concerns requires “clear guidelines”.

It believes that industry and government can work collaboratively to address this and has offered to meet with ministers or officials to discuss matters further.

While age restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches are expected through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, there is currently no official guidance for retailers for selling nicotine pouches.

In the organisation’s letter, SGF chief executive Pete Cheema wrote: “We believe that there is an opportunity in the coming months for industry and government to work together in collaboration to produce clear standardised guidance on the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches across the UK.

“This would support compliant businesses and raise awareness of this issue, while also ensuring people have the opportunity to make less harmful choices if they are considering quitting smoking.

“At the same time, clear guidance explicitly stating that nicotine pouches should only be sold to adults and that packaging should not appeal directly to children, would pave the way for age restriction measures due to be introduced in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the coming year.”

SGF has shared the same letter with Neil Gray, the Scottish government’s cabinet secretary for health. MSPs at Holyrood are due to consider secondary legislation at Holyrood once the Westminster Bill has passed. It has requested a meeting with both Streeting and Gray.

It has also previously written to its members, reiterating its stance around pouches as an adult cessation device that should not be marketed or sold to children.

While standard nicotine pouches contain up to 20mg of nicotine, reports of illegal higher strength products suggest they contain more than 100mg of nicotine.