Allow nicotine pouch sales
Petitioners ask the Minister of Health to allow nicotine pouch sales in convenience stores, gas stations and online. The government responds that the Order restricts pouches from self-selection retail sales to limit youth appeal.
Why we would sign this petition
- Easier retail access would help adults obtain nicotine pouches used as NRT, potentially supporting smoking cessation.
- Allowing convenience stores, gas stations and online sales increases consumer choice and convenience versus pharmacy-only access.
- Restoring sales would support small businesses that already sell age-restricted products responsibly.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Health Canada says such products can appeal to youth and nicotine is addictive, so restricting sales may better protect young people.
- Keeping sales limited to pharmacies lets regulators control packaging, flavours and place-of-sale to reduce youth uptake.
- Nicotine pouches are a newer NRT form with limited history in Canada; policymakers may prefer more evidence before broader retail access.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS: Many adult Canadians make use of nicotine pouches as a form of nicotine replacement therapy, which can help them quit tobacco smoking by relieving cravings and withdrawal symptoms; The Government of Canada has banned the sale of nicotine pouches from convenience stores, gas stations and online and will only allow pharmacies to sell the product behind the counter; Small businesses including convenience stores have a proven track record of responsibly selling age- restricted products, including nicotine replacement therapies; and This restriction takes away the freedom of choice from adult Canadians on where and how they access such products and will not prevent minors from accessing these products via the illicit market. THEREFORE: We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Health to remove the restrictions on sales of nicotine pouches to only pharmacies and allow convenience stores to sell the product once again.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Maggie Chi Health Canada authorizes nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) for the specific use of smoking cessation by adults. They are not authorized for recreational use or use by people under 18 years of age; however, there is concern that some of these products, especially emerging formats such as pouches, are becoming popular with youth and may lead them to nicotine dependence. Nicotine is a toxic and addictive substance that can be harmful to health; young people are particularly susceptible to nicotine’s addictive properties. To address these concerns, the Supplementary Rules Respecting Nicotine Replacement Therapies Order(the Order) was published on August 28, 2024, introducing new measures for orally administered NRTs to reduce the appeal of, access to, and use of these products by youth, including requirements related to place of sale, flavours, packaging and labelling, and advertising. The List of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Dosage Forms that may be Accessible for Self-selection by Purchasers or Consumers(the List) is a document incorporated by reference into the Order that sets out the NRT dosage forms that can be sold on a retail basis in self-selection areas because they have an established history of appropriate use. The List currently includes gums, lozenges, inhalers and sprays. NRT dosage forms not on the List, including nicotine pouches, are those with a limited history of appropriate use in Canada. This means that these dosage forms may not be sold in self-selection areas in retail settings including convenience stores. Over time, Health Canada may add an NRT dosage form to the List based on evidence submitted by a licence holder to support its history of appropriate use. Health Canada understands that quitting smoking can be challenging and is committed to maintaining access to NRTs for adults who use these products for smoking cessation. At the same time, the Department is responding to the public health concerns about the availability, use and marketing of certain NRTs and their potential appeal to youth. Health Canada is actively addressing the distribution and sale of unauthorized nicotine products. We are also working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency to identify and seize unauthorized nicotine products and prevent their entry into the country.