BAT Showcases Latest Science and Innovation in Tobacco Harm Reduction at Global Forum on Nicotine 2025

Advancing harm reduction strategies: A new role for oral nicotine pouches

Globally, public health strategies have focused on tobacco control measures - measures to make smoking less appealing. While tobacco control has a role to play, it is only part of the solution.

There is a growing scientific consensus that reduced-risk products can play a significant role in reducing the health impacts associated with cigarette smoking.

On a panel discussion "Evaluating WHO Tobacco Harm Reduction Science", Summer Hanna, Head of Scientific Regulation at BAT, said:

"Unfortunately, over the last 20 years, we've seen that scientific mindset and curiosity erode. We now have leading jurisdictions of tobacco control-countries like the UK or New Zealand-with progressive regulatory frameworks and remarkable declines in the rate of cigarette smoking. Meanwhile, WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is still reporting, 20 years later, over one billion smokers. To me, that's a failure of creativity and scientific process."

Speakers at the event included Derek Yach, Global Health Advocate and former director of the WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative. He concluded:

"We must move beyond outdated thinking and embrace harm reduction as a critical pillar of modern public health strategies. Nicotine pouches offer adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, a lower risk profile alternative to cigarettes. They also offer millions of adult users of toxic traditional oral tobacco/areca nut products across South Asia a lower risk nicotine alternative that could significantly lower the oral cancer burden of traditional oral products in the region."

Highlights from Dr Chris Junker's presentation: The science behind oral nicotine products

In his presentation, Dr Junker detailed how oral nicotine pouches deliver nicotine without combustion, or smoke - a critical distinction in reducing harm.

Oral nicotine pouches are made from a cellulose-based fille, flavours and nicotine - undergo rigorous safety assessments, and meet or exceed stringent regulatory standards.

Due to their simple composition, oral nicotine pouches carry the lowest risk profile among smokeless tobacco and nicotine products. Notably, they contain less than 1% of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

Key research findings include:

• Over 99% reduction in exposure to harmful toxicants compared to cigarette smoke
• Lower toxicant levels than traditional oral tobacco products such as snus
• Biomarker studies suggest harm reduction potential comparable to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

Dr Junker said: "It is in everyone's interest to reduce the health impacts associated with smoking cigarettes. The science behind nicotine pouches is clear: oral nicotine pouches have the lowest risk profile of all Smokeless Products. That's why adult smokers should have access to accurate information regarding their risk in comparison to smoking, enabling them to make an informed decision about switching."