Nicotine Science and Policy
By Harry Shapiro July 10, 2026
Harry’s Blog 132: “Zyn! Went The Strings Of My Heart” (with apologies to Judy Garland)
FDA approval of 20 nicotine pouch products is another step forward for tobacco harm reduction
The FDA in the U.S. has granted marketing authorisation for Zyn nicotine pouch products (five variations on mint plus five other flavours in two different strengths).
In its letter to PMI (who own Zyn manufacturers Swedish Match), the FDA wrote:
Based on our review of your MRTPAs [Modified Risk Tobacco Applications] we determined that the proposed modified risk tobacco products, …as actually used by consumers would significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population as a whole, taking into account both users of tobacco products and persons who do not currently use tobacco products. Therefore, we authorize marketing of the tobacco products as modified risk tobacco products with the following modified risk information – “Using ZYN instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis”.
July 28, 2026 by regulatorwatch.com
Striking Contrast | Science, Politics & the Battle Over Nicotine Pouches | RegWatch
Nicotine pouches sit at the intersection of science and politics — and the two are not always moving in the same direction. Evidence can help distinguish smoke-free products from cigarettes, but political pressure often pushes them into the same moral category. That contrast matters because regulation shaped by fear may ignore differences in exposure, risk and use. The battle over pouches is ultimately a test of whether policy can follow evidence when the politics becomes uncomfortable.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
July 28, 2026 by dailyfriend.co.za
Parliament discovers tobacco harm reduction
When parliament starts taking tobacco harm reduction seriously, the conversation changes. The focus can move beyond slogans about nicotine and towards the harder question of how to reduce smoking-related disease in practice. South Africa has an opportunity to build regulation that recognises the difference between combustible tobacco and lower-risk alternatives. Discovery is only the first step — the test is whether lawmakers turn evidence into proportionate policy.
July 27, 2026 by tobaccoharmreduction.net
South Africa Tobacco Regulation: The Case for Proportionate Risk
A regulation that treats every nicotine product as equally dangerous starts from the wrong premise.…
23.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 10.9 million current smokers in South Africa 39.30% of men are current smokers but only 8.50% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
July 28, 2026 by gfn.tv
How Can Tobacco Harm Reduction Reach Marginalised Communities? #GFN26
Harm reduction cannot only reach the people easiest to reach. Marginalised communities often face the highest burden of smoking-related harm, while also having less access to trusted healthcare, stable support and practical quitting routes. Tobacco harm reduction has to be built with those realities in mind: affordable options, credible messengers and policies that do not add stigma to disadvantage. Reducing harm means reaching the people public health too often misses.
July 27, 2026 by thecritic.co.uk
Time to scrap the smoking ban
A smoking ban may look like a clean public health victory, but bans rarely stay simple once they meet real life. Adults who smoke are still adults, and policy has to balance harm reduction with autonomy, enforcement and unintended consequences. The better question is not how far restrictions can go, but whether they actually reduce smoking-related harm without pushing people into stigma, avoidance or less visible use. Public health should persuade, support and reduce risk — not rely on prohibition as its default language.
11.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 6.7 million current smokers in United Kingdom 13.60% of men are current smokers but only 10.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
July 27, 2026 by clearingtheair.eu
US youth vaping rate down 74% as scientist questions ‘epidemic’ label
A 74% fall in youth vaping changes the way the problem should be described. If use is declining sharply, the “epidemic” label may no longer reflect the evidence — and policy should adapt accordingly. Youth access still requires enforcement, but exaggerating the scale of the issue can distort public perception and justify restrictions that also harm adult smokers. Good public health depends on accurate labels, not outdated alarm.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
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Blogs
Harry’s Blog 132: “Zyn! Went The Strings Of My Heart” (with apologies to Judy Garland)
FDA approval of 20 nicotine pouch products is another step forward for tobacco harm reduction
The FDA in the U.S. has granted marketing authorisation for Zyn nicotine pouch products (five variations on mint plus five other flavours in two different strengths).
In its letter to PMI (who own Zyn manufacturers Swedish Match), the FDA wrote:
Based on our review of your MRTPAs [Modified Risk Tobacco Applications] we determined that the proposed modified risk tobacco products, …as actually used by consumers would significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population as a whole, taking into account both users of tobacco products and persons who do not currently use tobacco products. Therefore, we authorize marketing of the tobacco products as modified risk tobacco products with the following modified risk information – “Using ZYN instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis”.
Harry’s Blog 131: Hidden harms
New publications from K•A•C discuss the challenge of smoking in treatment services caring for those who are HIV positive or coping with drug problems.
Smoking rates among those who are HIV positive and those who use drugs (as well as those with mental health problems where there may well be overlap) are anything from two to four times higher than the general adult smoking rates of most developed countries. One study of those receiving opiate substitute treatment recorded a smoking prevalence rate of 85%. Why should this be?
Harry’s blog 130: Follow the science not the money
For the sake of public health, end virtue signalling about THR funding
I arrived into the world of tobacco harm reduction (THR) from drugs and HIV harm reduction in 2015. I was invited into KAC by two valued colleagues from my previous world who were perfectly up front (and have never hidden the fact) that the funding for the organisation came from the Foundation for a Smoke Free World which in turn was funded by Philip Morris International. And the reason that they were prepared to use this money to further the cause of THR was that no other prospective funders for a harm reduction project were interested. Nobody back in the day was excited by the fact that if you could separate nicotine use from combustion the relative risk was massively reduced and the potential health gains enormous.