New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal attends the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Gala & Science Fair at Jazz at Lincoln Center on October 10, 2023 in New York City. (Getty Images)
Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, also a Democrat, is introducing a companion bill to ban nicotine pouches in the state legislature's lower chamber, the New York Post reported.
"There’s a lot greater awareness about nicotine patches," said Rosenthal, who first introduced a version of her bill in 2020.
Last month, the FDA approved 10 flavors of Philip Morris International’s Zyn brand of nicotine pouches, including cinnamon, coffee, mint, menthol and peppermint. This was the first time the agency authorized sales of nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches are held in the mouth and dissolve between the tongue and gum. In contrast to cigarettes and chewing tobacco, Zyn does not contain harmful substances linked to risks of cancer or other diseases, according to the FDA.
Zyn smokeless nicotine pouch containers for sale in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Getty Images)
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New York has already banned flavored e-cigarettes, although critics argue that the law is not adequately enforced.
"It's very similar to the issue involving flavored vapes," Hoylman-Sigal said.
Brian Erkilla, director of regulatory science at Philip Morris International, which produces Zyn, argues against New York banning Zyn and other nicotine pouches, saying that the "unintended consequences" include leaving 1.6 million tobacco smokers with fewer alternatives and that a ban could even lead to an uptick in smoking.
"The most harmful product is the combustible smoking cigarette. We should let smokers know there are other options out there. We shouldn’t take away their choice," Erkilla told the New York Post.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ny-lawmaker-introduces-bill-ban-zyn-other-flavored-nicotine-pouches-after-fdas-support-product