U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a significant step toward tobacco harm reduction by authorizing Zyn nicotine pouches, marking a potential turning point in helping smokers quit cigarettes.
The landmark decision covers 20 different Zyn products manufactured by Swedish Match, now owned by Philip Morris International.
The FDA's rigorous scientific review found that these tobacco-free nicotine pouches present substantially lower health risks compared to traditional cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products.
"This authorization represents a crucial advancement in protecting public health by providing adults with less harmful alternatives to cigarettes," said Tom Hayes, president of Swedish Match North America, in a statement to Reuters.
Unlike cigarettes, which expose users to thousands of harmful chemicals through combustion, Zyn pouches deliver nicotine without tobacco or smoke.
The FDA's analysis determined that users face significantly reduced risks of cancer and other serious health conditions associated with smoking.
The situation differs in Canada, where only Zonnic nicotine pouches are currently available as smoking cessation aids.
Canadian regulations restrict their sale to pharmacies and prohibit flavoured pouches.
Philip Morris International has responded to growing consumer demand by expanding Zyn production.
This investment suggests increasing recognition among both regulators and consumers that tobacco-free nicotine products could play a vital role in helping adult smokers transition away from more harmful cigarettes.
