507. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of recent reports of the increased use of snus or nicotine pouches among young people in Ireland; if his Department will investigate the matter; if his Department intends to regulate or prohibit these products, as the Netherlands and Belgium have done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/24]

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health:  Nicotine pouches are currently not covered by domestic or EU tobacco control legislation, with some Member States classifying them as either a foodstuff or medicine. The regulation of nicotine pouches is being discussed at EU level, both in terms of how these products are categorised and in the context of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive. An EU public consultation was carried out in 2023 to gain views on further regulation of novel products such as nicotine pouches, and a proposal from the EU Commission is expected this year.

It is understood that prevalence of nicotine pouch use remains extremely low in the adult population across the EU. Data on adolescent use of nicotine pouches in Ireland will be collected as part of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) in 2024.

The sale of snus is illegal in Ireland. It is prohibited under the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016