The Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) is committed to being the responsible voice for the novel nicotine industry, and the leading advocate for nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and other non-vaping emerging reduced-risk products.
To achieve this, GINN believes it is essential to set out clear, evidence-based principles for the sector. These core principles ensure that our members operate with the highest standards of integrity, safety, and responsibility, and ultimately helping more adult smokers to transition to less harmful alternatives.
The following commitments apply to all GINN members who are manufacturers, importers, sellers, or distributors of novel nicotine products. These principles define the obligations of these companies as GINN members in areas of:
youth access prevention;
Regulatory compliance;
product quality and composition;
packaging and design;
flavour names;
marketing and advertising;
environmental responsibility;
consumer sales practices;
consumer and public education.
Youth Access Prevention
Recognising that nicotine products – including combustibles, vapes, heat-not-burn, oral pouches, and others – are intended solely for adult consumers and supporting the potential of novel nicotine products as harm reduction and smoking cessation tools, members acknowledge their role in leading the sector responsibly.
In some markets, certain novel nicotine products are not regulated the same way as combustible tobacco and vapes; often, they fall under general consumer product safety regulations.
GINN supports effective and enforced regulation to ensure that only legal-age adults can purchase nicotine products. Where minimum-age control laws are absent or where legislation is yet to be defined, GINN’s clear position is that no nicotine product should be sold, marketed, or targeted to individuals not of legal age (as defined in the relevant jurisdiction).
Members are committed to preventing underage access to any nicotine product and acting as responsible industry partners to ensure that their business practices, marketing and advertising strategies, and regulatory engagement activities reflect this commitment.
Any member found to be non-compliant with GINN’s position on youth access prevention will have their membership terminated.
Members commit to:
1. Regulatory Compliance:
Members will support proactive and positive engagement with regulatory authorities, and must adhere to all regulations in the markets and geographies where they operate, especially those aimed at preventing youth access to nicotine and addressing environmental concerns.
Members will work with the appropriate regulatory bodies to eliminate the sale of counterfeit and dangerous products.
Members must report unethical industry practices to the relevant authorities.
2. Product Quality and Composition:
Members will adhere to the highest levels of product quality, manufacturing, and safety standards in the industry.
Products must only contain nicotine (or nicotine salt) and substances that do not pose a risk to human health, With the exception of tobacco and herbal heating products such as herbal heat sticks,
Products must only contain nicotine (or nicotine salt) and approved substances.
Products must not contain vitamins, minerals, or other ingredients that imply health benefits; addictive substances other than nicotine; caffeine; taurine; or other non-nicotine stimulants.
3. Responsible Packaging and Product Design:
Packaging must not use imagery or designs that clearly appeal to individuals under the legal age or are oriented towards youth culture.
Products must not be based on or resemble toys or game designs and must not incorporate gaming capabilities.
4. Appropriate Flavour Names:
Flavour names and descriptors must be age-appropriate and should not appeal to individuals under the legal age across all nicotine product categories.
5. Ethical Marketing Practices:
Members must ensure that all advertising and marketing efforts are directed towards legal-age adults and conducted ethically.
Advertising must not exploit themes or images that could appeal to individuals under the legal age.
This includes responsible use of social media platforms to communicate with adult consumers and excludes using social media influencers whose content focuses on individuals under the legal age.
6. Environmental Stewardship:
Members must adhere to environmentally responsible practices, including the proper disposal and recycling of nicotine products.
Members will promote eco-friendly practices across their operations.
7. Fair Consumer Sales Practices:
Members will adhere to ethical sales practices, ensuring transparency in pricing, product information, and terms of sale.
Members must implement robust age verification systems for both in-person and online sales to prevent purchases by individuals not of legal age.
Members must provide clear, accurate, and accessible information about the potential risks and benefits of nicotine products to consumers.
8. Consumer and Public Education:
Members will support GINN’s educational initiatives to inform consumers about the proper use of novel nicotine products, potential health risks, and benefits as harm reduction tools.
Members will support public health campaigns aimed at reducing smoking rates and promoting the use of reduced-risk nicotine products.
Members will work with healthcare professionals, academics, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders as identified by GINN to support the provision of accurate information and resources about novel nicotine products.
