The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has written to the UK Government’s Health Secretary calling for clear guidance around the sale of nicotine pouches.
The trade body has reiterated its members’ commitment to responsible retailing to Wes Streeting amid reports about illegal high-strength pouches being in circulation, which can contain up to 100mg of nicotine.
While age restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches are expected through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is working its way through parliament, SGF has highlighted that there is currently no official guidance on best practice for retailers selling nicotine pouches.
The trade body 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”.
SGF believes that industry and government can work collaboratively to address this and has offered to meet with ministers or officials to discuss matters further.
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.
