India’s government has argued that the sale of nicotine pouches at airports is a “substantive violation” of drug laws and a “serious public health risk”. The government is seeking to overturn Adani Group’s bid to sell the unlicensed products at Mumbai’s airport.

Nicotine Pouches and Health Risks

Nicotine pouches, which are inserted under the lip to get a nicotine buzz, remain unapproved and illegal in India. The government has approved some nicotine replacements, including patches and chewing gums, but products like nicotine pouches are not permitted.

The Indian government cited a 2019 law banning e-cigarettes and vapes, which recognized the health risks of unregulated nicotine delivery products. Permitting the airport to sell nicotine pouches would amount to “judicial circumvention of this legislative policy”, the government filing said.

Tobacco kills 1.35 million people each year in India, and a government study in June called nicotine pouches “a new and largely unregulated public health concern”, with widespread illegal sales and consumption among people aged 18 to 40.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.