Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland has pledged to crack down on nicotine pouches and issued a warning to tobacco companies that are marketing nicotine pouches to children, City News Everywhere reports.
“I say to the tobacco companies who continue to find ways to exploit loopholes to get people addicted to their products, get lost and stay away from our children,” Holland said at a news conference.
He accused Imperial Tobacco of exploiting a loophole to get its oral nicotine pouch, Zonnic, approved by Health Canada and label the product as a smoking cessation aid. Health Canada’s approval did not include a minimum age limit. Holland claims the product is now being used to lure another generation into becoming addicted to nicotine products.