Written question asked by Viscount Ridley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 March 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 March 2021. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Friday, 19 March 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Tobacco

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to request that the Committee on Toxicity undertakes a toxicological evaluation of (1) snus, (2) non-tobacco oral nicotine pouches, and (3) smokeless tobacco products used primarily by South Asian communities in the UK.

Answer: The Department is considering whether the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) should undertake an evaluation of non-tobacco oral nicotine pouches in its work programme in the next financial year. Oral tobacco products are banned under Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016 and consequently there are no current plans to ask COT to evaluate such products. COT will not consider smokeless tobacco products because their dangers and harms are well documented in the existing evidence base.

Secondary information