Cyprus has a new problem with nicotine pouches. These products are becoming very popular. By the end of 2024, there were no clear laws for them. The Cyprus Drugs Council said these pouches are like medicine in October 2024. However, this created a problem. Now, there are no official permissions for selling them. This means sellers and buyers do not know the rules. There are no rules about how strong they are, about taxes, or about age limits. This is different from many other countries in Europe.
Nicotine pouches are not part of old smoking laws. They are not like cigarettes or e-cigarettes. These small pouches go under the tongue. They have not been checked by laws before. Many pouches from China came to Cyprus in 2024. They had no taxes and were not checked. These pouches often have very high nicotine. This makes health experts worried.
Health services in Cyprus are also worried. They have warned about possible health problems. They said these pouches can make your heart beat faster. You could also get nicotine poisoning. So, clear rules are needed fast. Shop owners sell these pouches. They know they are in a legal grey area. They are not sure if it is legal to sell them.
Calling nicotine pouches medicine was a step. But it has made things harder. To sell medicine, you need special permission. This shows the product is safe. No nicotine pouch products have this permission yet. There are no specific laws for them. This leaves consumers without protection.
Many EU countries have laws for nicotine pouches. They allow sales and have rules. These rules cover nicotine strength and packaging. Sweden and its neighbours have rules for similar products. They have a history of controlling these products. But in Cyprus, people buy these pouches without clear information. They do not know about safety or long-term health effects. Without clear rules, health problems could increase. Businesses also face unfair competition.