Health Ministry says Velo nicotine pouches non-tobacco products, not under its regulatory mandate

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination told the National Assembly on September 5 that the Velo nicotine pouches are non-tobacco products and do not fall under its regulatory mandate.

During the question hour, the ministry clarified that it had not issued any license to any cigarette company to manufacture or the sale of Velo nicotine pouches.

This information was shared in response to a question from MNA Zartaj Gul regarding the grounds and conditions on which the license was issued to the cigarette companies for selling Velo pouches. and steps taken by the government to prevent the sale and purchase of Velo pouches to youth under the age of 18 years. She also wanted to know whether the instructions have been written on each packet of cigarettes by the ministry to prevent the selling and purchase to youth under the age of 18 years.

However, the ministry's reply added that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has conducted the analysis of nicotine pouches and has not recommended the use of this product as nicotine is a highly addictive substance. "The ministry is constituting a working group of relevant experts from health product regulation and tobacco control to frame recommendations for control or regulation."

The reply said instructions have been written on each packet of cigarettes by the ministry under SRO 863 (1)/2010 of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker's Health Ordinance 2002. It says, “Every cigarette manufacturer and importer ensure that the following statement (in clear Urdu font) is legibly printed in black color on one of the side panels of every cigarette packet manufactured or imported for consumption in Pakistan.”
A product of BAT, the sale of Velo in Pakistan in 2022 reached a monthly volume of over 40 million pouches.