Seizure of nicotine pouches 2023 - 2025
Case reference FOI2025/00575
Received 21 March 2025
Published 15 April 2025
Request
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the seizure of nicotine pouches by your Trading Standards team. Specifically, I would like to request the following:
1. How many illicit nicotine pouch products has your Trading Standards team seized for 2023 and 2024, and 2025? If possible, please specify the name of the company supplying the nicotine pouch, as well as the name of the retailer.
2. The reasons for the seizures, including but not limited to:
- Non-compliance with UK product safety regulations
- Mislabeling or incorrect nicotine content
- Sale to underage individuals
- Illegal importation or counterfeit concerns
3. Any reports, assessments, or internal communications related to concerns over the sale, distribution, or safety of nicotine pouches within your jurisdiction.
4. Any fines or prosecutions issued in relation to seized nicotine pouches in your jurisdiction for 2023 and 2024.
Please specify the name of the retailer and the fine amount, as well as whether the retailer paid the fine. If any of this information is already available in a publicly accessible format, please provide links or details of where it can be found. If aspects of my request exceed cost limits, I would appreciate any partial disclosure within the limit.
A reminder that under Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I should receive a response within 20 working days.
Response
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the seizure of nicotine pouches by your Trading Standards team.
Specifically, I would like to request the following:
1. How many illicit nicotine pouch products has your Trading Standards team seized for 2023 and 2024, and 2025? If possible, please specify the name of the company supplying the nicotine pouch, as well as the name of the retailer.
2. The reasons for the seizures, including but not limited to:
- Non-compliance with UK product safety regulations
- Mislabeling or incorrect nicotine content - Sale to underage individuals
- Illegal importation or counterfeit concerns
3. Any reports, assessments, or internal communications related to concerns over the sale, distribution, or safety of nicotine pouches within your jurisdiction.
4. Any fines or prosecutions issued in relation to seized nicotine pouches in your jurisdiction for 2023 and 2024. Please specify the name of the retailer and the fine amount, as well as whether the retailer paid the fine.
Answer: The answer is 0 for all of the above questions.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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