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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Nicotine pouches regulation

Summary

Jennifer Whitmore warned that nicotine pouches are highly addictive, marketed to children, and currently unregulated in Ireland, and called for HSE guidance.

I raise nicotine pouches. A nicotine pouch rests up against a person's gum. A pouch is five times stronger than a cigarette. Children are using these pouches in schools. Teachers do not know they have them against their gums. These pouches are highly addictive. They are marketed to teens and come in mint or berry flavours. We currently do not regulate them. In January, I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health. There is no regulation of them in Ireland. That needs to happen. The chair of the national association of principals has called for the HSE to issue guidance to enable schools to deal with the issue. We need to get ahead of nicotine companies and be proactive in regulating before the problem becomes too big.

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