2FIRSTS | BREAKING: China Brings Nicotine Pouches Under Tobacco Monopoly Regulation, Signaling Major Shift for Oral Products
China now regulates nicotine pouches as tobacco products, effectively giving China Tobacco a monopoly over the domestic market.Summary
China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) has issued its first explicit regulatory framework for nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products, classifying them as cigarettes or cut tobacco rather than e-cigarettes. This decision effectively restricts private manufacturers from operating in the Chinese market and paves the way for China Tobacco to dominate the domestic production and distribution of oral nicotine products. The move aligns with China’s previous regulatory actions in the e-cigarette sector, where a similar consolidation occurred after the implementation of stricter regulations. The STMA’s announcement, effective immediately, also subjects oral nicotine products to China’s “restricted” industrial policy, tightly controlling production capacity and investment. This regulatory shift comes amid broader intensified oversight of tobacco and novel nicotine products in China, signaling a move towards institutionalized governance and increased transparency.
(Source：2Firsts)
