Oral Tobacco: Health Hazards

(asked on 30th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 24 March (HL6032), whether they have conducted analysis of the toxicity levels of (1) nicotine pouches, (2) South Asian chewed tobacco, and (3) snus.


Answered by
Lord Kamall Portrait
Lord Kamall
This question was answered on 13th April 2022

The Department has not conducted its own independent analysis on the toxicity levels of nicotine pouches, South Asian chewed tobacco or snus but monitors the evidence on these products. Whilst the notification of tobacco products, including South Asian smokeless products, is required under the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016, we do not routinely test notified products other than as required as the Competent Authority for tobacco and herbal products for smoking.

The Committee on Toxicity of Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is considering the toxicological risks of tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches and it will publish a position statement once completed.

We are aware of the article published in 2006 on the levels of toxins in oral tobacco products in the United Kingdom. Whilst the risks of adverse health outcomes caused by snus are far lower than smoking, snus is banned in the UK. The Government has no plans to introduce additional tobacco products to the UK market, as safer nicotine delivery products are currently available for smokers. There is evidence that snus is associated with risk of adverse health effects and higher all-cause mortality.

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