New regulations for sale of flavoured nicotine pouches welcomed by N.L. advocates

Spotting brightly coloured containers of flavoured nicotine pouches in corner stores and gas stations will be a thing of the past — and the new regulations restricting their sale have the backing of Newfoundland and Labrador health advocates.

Last week, the federal government announced restrictions on the sale and promotion of the pouches, which contain flavouring and sweeteners and are placed between the cheek and gum. As of Wednesday, nicotine pouches, previously for sale through corner stores and gas stations, will now only be available at pharmacies.

Kevin Coady, executive director of the non-profit organization Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for Control of Tobacco, said his group has been calling for the federal government to curb the product's sale for more than a year.

"It's good news that it's been hauled back. Wish it didn't have to get in at all, but that's it," Coady told CBC News.

Imperial Tobacco, maker of nicotine pouch Zonnic, will also have six months to change its labels and ads so their product doesn't appeal to young people.

Coady said the government has admitted that letting Zonnic into the market was a mistake and is now taking action, though he worries it's too late for some people who might have become addicted.

"It's been a year and unfortunately that's a year too long because some young people have found the product and they have access to it in the corner stores," he said.

Coady said he's in favour of the product being available through pharmacies where adults can access it.

"It's no longer next to the candy and the bars and the chips and so on in our convenience stores, in the colourful little packages that they've had [that are] particularly attractive to young people," he said.

However, he said Canada has no legal minimum age to purchase the pouches, meaning anyone can buy them. He'd like to see the government go further and implement age restrictions on nicotine pouches.

"There's really no reason why young people should need this product," said Coady.

Coady hopes that by putting these items behind a pharmacy counter, it will be harder for young people to access it.

"I would assume that the pharmacist would deal with the cases where he's looking at a 16- or 17-year-old who's trying to buy this product," he said.

Dr. Leslie Phillips,  a professor in Memorial University's school of pharmacy and faculty of medicine who runs the university's quit smoking program, said she's thrilled to see the new restrictions on the product.