State lawmakers have approved the potential health benefits of the product to help smokers cut or quit smoking cancer-causing cigarettes, but the flavored nicotine pouch It is moving to ban the sale of.
But replacing cigarettes covered in cigarettes with “very addictive” nicotine pouches is not the answer, Sen. Brad Hoyleman Cigal said.
“This product is differentiated from other smokeless tobacco products because it does not contain tobacco leaves and does not contain nicotine derived from tobacco or synthetic nicotine,” acknowledged in his bill memo. He is a Fairman Cigar (D-Manhattan).
“Anyway, all forms of nicotine and any product are highly addictive substances. The law will adjust the value of New York when banning attractive flavors of all nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. ” he said.
Rep. Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) has introduced a companion bill to ban nicotine pouches in other rooms.
In January, the FDA approved 10 flavors from the Zyn brand of nicotine pouches manufactured by Philip Morris International.
It was the first time regulators have approved the sale of nicotine pouches, the fastest growing sector in the US tobacco market.
The nicotine pouch, which is held in the mouth and melts between the tongue and gum, is also more popular among young people. .
Zyn is a brand of choice, the student told the post.
An annual federal survey based on responses from 24,000 students in 8th, 10th and 12th grades across the country, found that 12th graders using Zyn and other pouches amounted to just three in 2023 last year. It turns out that it has increased from % to 6%.
That's exactly what Hoyleman Segal is trying to stop. It prevents young people from becoming obsessed with nicotine.
“Our bill targets flavor products that young people are most likely to use. With our bill, we are trying to stop young people from becoming obsessed with the Zyn products they like. “We'll do that,” the senator said Sunday.
Critics have argued that the law is not actively enforced, but New York has already banned flavorful e-cigarettes.
“It's very similar to the problem of involving flavorful steam,” said Hoyleman Cigal.
However, FDA officials said Zyn contains fewer harmful ingredients than tobacco and different types of chewing cigarettes.
Company data also showed that a “slight portion of adults” who had previously smoked had switched to Zyn completely, regulators said. The pouches are sold in two different strengths.
“This data shows that these nicotine pouch products fill their bars by benefiting adults using cigarettes and smoke-free tobacco products,” says Matthew Farrely of the FDA's Cigarette Products Center. states.
The FDA also questioned whether nicotine pouches are truly rage among young people, pointing to government survey data showing that under 2% of American high school students used nicotine pouches last year.
Brian Erkilla, director of regulatory science at Philip Morris International, which produces Zyn, said it would be a mistake for New York to ban Zyn and other nicotine pouches.
“Unintended consequences” include leaving behind 1.6 million cigarette smokers with fewer options to kick fatal habits, which could lead to more smoking, he said.
“The most harmful product is flammable smoking cigarettes. You need to let smokers know they have other options. We shouldn't take away their choice,” Elkira said.
Still, Hoylman-Sigal warned the FDA not to sell nicotine pouches to young people, pointing out that tobacco products are not safe.
Meanwhile, opposition said the ban could even undermine local convenience stores and boost criminal transport on the black market.
“The New York border with Canada has historically been a high avenue for criminal transport, and ports have resulted in an increase in vulnerability. To ban these products will exploit these dangerous criminal cartels that will take advantage of this lucrative market. “We'll just create a new cash crop for the Border Patrol Alliance,” said John Dickinson, chairman of the Border Patrol Alliance.
“The truth is that law enforcement resources are now fully expanded and thinner due to all new policies banning current legal products.”
The New York Convenience Store Association said removing these products from member shelves would cost the business, not only hurting state tax revenues, but could drive these products to the black market .
“These nicotine pouches are a growing part of the sector, and banning them not only restricts adult access to less harmful alternatives to smoking, but also age restrictions, no quality control, tax revenues For the states that would create a lawless wild west without few rules, it will only hurt legal businesses following the rules. Nyacs President Alison Ritchie said in a statement.
