The debate on nicotine pouches is in full swing in the Danish parliament. The pouches have grown in popularity in Denmark, as well as in other EU countries, and the products are currently completely unregulated in the EU. The government wants to take a tough stance, while the opposition is calling for softer legislation.
"In order to protect young people, a ban will be introduced that affects adults", says Louise Brown from the Liberal Alliance.
"You don't invent watermelon-flavoured nicotine products to appeal to adults," said Sophie Løhde, Minister for Health from the Liberal Party.
Against this background, a majority in the Danish Parliament wants to ban all flavours in nicotine pouches other than tobacco and menthol. The majority also wants to cap the amount of nicotine at 9 milligrams per nicotine pouch.
The opposition criticises the restrictions, which are out of step with developments in Sweden and Finland.
"In order to protect young people, a ban will be introduced that affects adults", says Louise Brown from the Liberal Alliance.
New requirements for nicotine pouches
More than one in three young people - 36 per cent tried a tobacco or nicotine product at some point. Against this background, a majority in the Danish Parliament has agreed on a so-called prevention plan targeting children and young people. The plan introduces new requirements for nicotine pouches. In future, they will have to be sold in standardised packs, they can only taste of tobacco and menthol, they must have a specific size and they must contain a maximum of 9 mg of nicotine per pouch.
"Cynical industry"
When the Danish Parliament debated the law for the first time on 11 October, the fronts were clearly divided. The government and the left emphasised that the purpose of the legislation was to protect children and young people from nicotine. The opposition responded that the restrictions generally affect adult consumers who want to use an alternative to cigarettes.
"The cynical marketing practices of the nicotine industry have led to 40 per cent of our young people using at least one harmful nicotine product," said Mathilde Powers, the Socialist Group's prevention spokesperson. "We are up against a powerful and cynical industry", she continued.
Concerns about the black market
Liberal health spokesperson Christoffer Melson emphasised the need to avoid the risk of children and young people starting on nicotine products, which increase the risk of developing an addiction to other substances such as alcohol, cannabis or other hard drugs.
"Nicotine is an addictive poison and its use by young people can cause permanent brain damage," said Mr Melson during the debate,
However, he was against banning all products.
"If you hit something that a lot of thousands of people are using, then you also run the risk of creating a very lucrative market that we have no control over at all, where young people then also have easier access to it because there's no one checking identification," Mr Melson declared.
"In Sweden, they are less affected by public diseases," replied Louise Brown from the Liberal Alliance. "One of the main reasons is that Swedes smoke much less. Instead, they use smokeless products such as snus and nicotine pouches."
"Removing over 90 per cent of the legal market"
Louise Brown found it completely illogical that Denmark should fight smoke-free products for adults.
"To protect young people, they want to impose bans that affect adults. This is completely illogical. Children and young people under 18 are already banned from buying tobacco and nicotine products," said Mr Brown. "By proposing a nicotine limit of 9 milligrams per nicotine pouch, the Health Minister will effectively remove over 90 per cent of the legal market for nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches are a less harmful product than cigarettes. If we are to realistically reduce smoking in Denmark, we must have some alternative."
Identified risks
This made Health Minister Sophie Løhde red-faced. She rejected the arguments.
"We know from cigarettes that low nicotine levels can help reduce consumption and nicotine addiction. The proposed limit of 9 milligrams is set to have a real impact on children and young people's nicotine intake - also to reduce the risks associated with nicotine," said Ms Løhde.
"It's up to the producers to change their minds"
The Health Minister also dismissed the risk of banning 90 per cent of the legal market for nicotine pouches.
"You could consider whether manufacturers are now free to change their product if they want to market it in a given country - those who currently produce 20 mg, 16 mg or 12 mg, if they want to continue to market their products, they can and will change them to 9 mg. It's not fair to talk about banning 90 per cent of the legal market," said the health minister.
"Pulled out of thin air"
Asked why they didn't do what Finland did with a 16.6 milligram limit rather than an arbitrary 9 mg limit "pulled out of thin air", the Health Minister responded with a challenge:
"If the nicotine industry thinks that it produces something so fantastic that it can make people quit smoking, then I would strongly recommend that some people dare to submit an application to have their products medically authorised for smoking cessation. There is probably a good reason for this," concluded the Minister for Health.
The law is being reviewed
The Danish Parliament will now discuss the bill in the Health Committee. The Liberal Alliance and the Danish People's Party have announced that they will challenge the factual basis for the minister's statement.
