<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="" title="Health"><span>Health</span></a><span> experts are urging for tighter regulations on nicotine pouches, warning that they are being marketed with "youth-attractive branding" and sold online with ease in ways that risk repeating the same </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/vaping-linked-to-cancer-new-study-says/caf07f72-8a56-4afa-8e53-a0c239dd2f73" rel="" target="" title="health concerns"><span>health concerns</span></a><span> linked to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/vaping" rel="" target="" title="vaping"><span>vaping</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> Medical Association (AMA) has called on the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/government" rel="" target="" title="government"><span>government</span></a><span> and enforcement agencies to shut loopholes that allow unapproved nicotine products to enter the market and get sold online effortlessly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AMA Vice President Associate Professor Julian Rait said nicotine pouches are being sold with "youth-attractive branding and sold online with minimal friction", despite having no approved therapeutic indication in Australia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/body-found-in-search-for-missing-northern-territory-girl/d2aa7d07-20a3-4e85-965b-dcae5f71dd4d" target="" title="Family of Kumanjayi Little Baby calls for calm to hold in Alice Springs"><strong><span>Family of Kumanjayi Little Baby calls for calm to hold in Alice Springs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A non-industry study showed that nicotine absorption from pouches containing 30 mg nicotine was comparable with that from one cigarette, and some pouches contain up to 150mg of nicotine," Rait said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Regulators must not wait until the use of nicotine pouches becomes entrenched in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Professor Rait said nicotine pouches can cause mouth and gum irritation, upset stomachs, nausea and high blood pressure.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tighter-regulatory-controls-of-nicotine-pouches-needed-to-avoid-harm/6090c05f-51b8-4270-87ec-1845e4436c24" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The association say that there are currently no approved nicotine pouches on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), meaning none should be supplied through "routine channels".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-deadline-for-congress-to-approve-iran-war-doesnt-apply-hostilities-have-terminated/5279521f-374b-40f5-a474-f518b1b31711" rel="" target="" title="Trump says deadline for Congress to approve Iran war doesn't apply"><strong><span>Trump says deadline for Congress to approve Iran war doesn't apply</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Professor Rait said that the AMA is in favour of the Therapeutic Goods Administration's proposed changes, which would prevent access to unapproved nicotine pouches via existing pathways such as access schemes and personal importation arrangements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The association also noted how the rapid growth in sales of these unregulated products has exposed a flaw in the government's regulations and enforcement of synthetic nicotine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Without stronger, technology-neutral rules and consistent national enforcement, suppliers will continue to exploit grey areas," Professor Rait said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need stronger safeguards, including effective online compliance and takedown processes, clear and consistent health warnings, child-resistant packaging, and better monitoring of adverse events and poisoning presentations to inform ongoing regulatory action."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The call comes the same week that new laws have </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/world/uk-passes-lifelong-smoking-ban-for-the-next-generation/64a9b04a-b63d-4bee-a927-7b974d6b4979" rel="" target="" title="come into effect"><span>come into effect</span></a><span> in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="" title="Britain"><span>Britain</span></a><span>, barring children aged 17 and under from ever legally purchasing cigarettes in their lifetime.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British ministers also wield significant new powers to regulate the flavours, packaging, and display of vaping and nicotine products to make them less appealing to minors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" 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