Explanation of the "Announcement on the Regulation of Smokeless Tobacco Products"

To further strengthen the supervision of smokeless tobacco products and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, in accordance with the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Combating Tobacco-Related Illegal Activities Across the Entire Chain (Guo Ban Fa [2025] No. 44), relevant national industrial policies, and national standards, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration has formulated the "Announcement on Further Strengthening the Supervision of Smokeless Tobacco Products" (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement"). The relevant information is explained as follows:

I. Background and Necessity of the Announcement

In recent years, a new type of smokeless tobacco product has emerged in the international market. These products use nicotine as their main active ingredient and are consumed through oral, nasal, or topical application without producing smoke. They include nicotine pouches (sheets, patches), tobacco products, chewing tobacco, tart tobacco, dissolved tobacco, and sniffing tobacco. The World Health Organization recommends increased regulation of nicotine pouches and other tobacco products or alternatives. An increasing number of countries are implementing strict regulations on these products.

Similar products have also appeared in the domestic market. These products generally suffer from problems such as unclear nicotine content, unknown added ingredients, and lack of health warnings. Some operators are engaged in the production and sale of smokeless tobacco products without a license, and even mislead consumers and induce minors to use them with claims such as "aiding smoking cessation" and "healthy harm reduction," seriously damaging consumers' legitimate rights and interests and harming the physical and mental health of minors. There has been strong public reaction and continuous calls for stronger supervision. Relevant departments in China have already included smokeless tobacco products in the scope of tobacco regulation in areas such as import and export tariffs and trademark management.

The State Council executive meeting held on December 5, 2025, deployed measures to combat tobacco-related illegal activities across the entire supply chain. On December 12, 2025, the "Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Combating Tobacco-Related Illegal Activities Across the Entire Supply Chain" (Guo Ban Fa [2025] No. 44) was issued, clarifying that tobacco monopoly departments should closely monitor the dynamics of tobacco-related products and promptly clarify the attributes and scope of various tobacco-related products. The production and sale of tobacco-related products containing tobacco or nicotine, such as oral cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and tobacco paste, without a license are strictly prohibited.

In order to implement the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Combating Tobacco-Related Illegal Activities in the Whole Chain (Guo Ban Fa [2025] No. 44), and other relevant regulations, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, based on thorough research, drafted the Announcement to further strengthen the supervision of smokeless tobacco products such as nicotine pouches.

II. Main Contents of the Announcement

The announcement clarifies the product attributes, main product forms, applicable regulatory policies, legal basis, and industrial policies for smokeless tobacco products. Nicotine pouches (sheets, patches), tobacco-containing products, and other new tobacco-related products all contain nicotine, and are essentially no different from cigarettes or tobacco products; therefore, classifying them under the management of cigarettes or tobacco products is consistent with their product characteristics. Smokeless tobacco products will be strictly subject to national restricted industry policies. The production and sale of smokeless tobacco products such as nicotine pouches (sheets, patches), tobacco-containing products, etc., without a license are strictly prohibited. This announcement is effective from the date of its issuance.