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July 09, 2025 by timesofmalta.com

Health authorities in Malta are concerned about the rising popularity of unregulated nicotine pouches among young people. The product poses health risks such as addiction and serves as a potential gateway to tobacco use for children. These concerns will be addressed in the forthcoming Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030. Nicotine pouches are sold in colourful containers with various flavors and nicotine strengths, commonly found in small stores and bars. While some users believe it helps cut down on smoking, authorities worry about its widespread availability and the misconception that it is less harmful than tobacco. The product's unregulated status raises concerns about its impact on public health.

July 07, 2025 by expats.cz

The Czech Ministry of Health plans to ban candy-like flavors in e-cigarettes, such as cotton candy, marshmallow, and donut, to curb vaping among children and teens. The new amendment aims to make vaping less attractive to young people. Although e-cigarette sales to minors are already illegal, government data shows that many stores do not enforce age restrictions, with over half of teenagers saying they can easily buy e-cigarette cartridges. The ban will not apply to all flavors.

July 04, 2025 by euronews.com

The Greek parliament has passed a new law to protect minors from smoking and alcohol. The legislation includes strict age verification for sales, bans smoking in certain public areas, and limits advertising. Violations—such as selling tobacco or alcohol to minors or employing them in bars—can result in fines up to €10,000 and up to three years in prison. The law is broad in scope and introduces strong penalties to ensure compliance.

July 04, 2025 by london-post.co.uk

Vaping has surged in the UK, with increasing regulations targeting illegal products. The country supports vaping as a smoking cessation aid but cracks down on non-compliant items. Legal alternatives include TPD-compliant disposables, pod systems, and open system kits. Options like the Hayati Pro Max and IVG 2400 pods provide satisfying, eco-friendly choices. Consumers and retailers are urged to prioritize legality and safety. Future trends may involve stricter regulations, emphasizing the importance of compliant products. Choosing legal vapes supports sustainability and long-term satisfaction while avoiding risks associated with illegal products.

July 04, 2025 by rtl.lu

France has expanded its smoking ban to include beaches, parks, and areas near schools to deter youth smoking. This has sparked a debate on whether Luxembourg should implement similar measures. The stricter ban in France aims to protect young people by prohibiting smoking in public spaces frequented by children. While Luxembourg has no beaches, discussions on extending smoking restrictions to places where children gather are ongoing. The push for anti-tobacco measures in Luxembourg continues, with initiatives focusing on raising awareness, supporting smokers to quit, and creating smoke-free zones. The goal is to reduce Luxembourg's smoking rate to below 5% by 2040.

July 04, 2025 by cnn.com

France has implemented a ban on smoking in all outdoor areas frequented by children, with fines of up to 135 euros for violators. Despite efforts to create a tobacco-free generation by 2032, some citizens feel the restrictions encroach on personal freedoms. Smoking rates in France are declining, but the country still faces challenges with illicit tobacco consumption. The government aims to protect youth and combat smoking despite resistance from tobacco industry lobbying. The new regulations do not currently ban e-cigarettes but include restrictions on ingredients. The ultimate goal is to reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects, with future steps possibly including further restrictions on smoking.

July 03, 2025 by tobaccoreporter.com

BAT France welcomed the new AFNOR experimental standard XP V37-500, ensuring safety, quality, and transparency of nicotine pouches by setting strict guidelines. Developed with industry experts, it covers key areas like product composition (natural nicotine capped at 16.6 mg), manufacturing (GMP and traceability), toxicological evaluation, packaging (complying with European standards), and labeling (nicotine content, ingredients, allergens, warnings). Sébastien Charbonneau, BAT France's public affairs director, praised the standard as providing quality assurance and transparency for adult consumers in professional networks.

July 03, 2025 by 2firsts.com

French Standardization Association AFNOR released XP V37-500, a new standard for nicotine pouches in France, allowing only specific ingredients and ≤16.6mg nicotine per pouch. It mandates GMP production, traceability, toxicity assessment, tamper-proof packaging, and ingredient labeling. AFNOR's role ensures national standardization compliance. The standard aligns with UK and Sweden regulations to combat illegal products and protect consumers. BAT France welcomes the standard, emphasizing industry progression and self-regulation efforts to safeguard adult smokers.

July 03, 2025 by ampproject.org

Vicky Unwin's warning against classifying ketamine as Class A stems from her daughter's fatal overdose. She advocates for legal regulation over criminalization of drugs. On the other hand, Dorset's PCC, David Sidwick, supports the move to Class A, citing a need for increased awareness and treatment resources. Ketamine misuse can lead to bladder damage, with a surge in usage among young adults. Parents like Unwin and Anne-Marie Cockburn advocate for harm reduction strategies and better drug education. Despite government concerns and potential reclassification, some feel more action is needed to address the growing drug issue among youth.

July 03, 2025 by irishexaminer.com

The HSE warns against using six mislabeled vapes containing high levels of nicotine. Customers can return them to the store where purchased. Identified products are listed, with nicotine levels up to 30 mg/ml. Retailers are urged to ensure compliance to prevent risks and legal consequences. Irish regulations prohibit vape sales to under-18s and propose further restrictions on vape products, including color and flavor limits. Concerns persist about vaping's impact on smoking rates, prompting ongoing policy reviews. The Public Health Bill aims to curb youth vaping. Legislation was passed to raise the tobacco sales age to 21. Tobacco Free Ireland policy is being reviewed to achieve a tobacco-free country.