Online Zyn nicotine pouch sales suspended

The online sales of Zyn nicotine patches have been suspended nationwide this week, Reuters reported.

Zyn is an oral pouch that contains nicotine powder and flavorings like mint, coffee and citrus, according to the Associated Press, and they have been the fastest-growing product in the tobacco industry.

Users stick them between their lip and gums, the AP said, where the pouches slowly release low levels of nicotine that are absorbed into the bloodstream. Because they generally don’t contain tobacco, there’s no spitting involved, according to the AP.

Philip Morris International, an American tobacco company, bought Swedish Match North America, the company that manufactures Zyn nicotine pouches, in 2022 in a $16 billion deal, according to Reuters.

Swedish Match received a subpoena from Washington D.C.’s attorney general requesting information about its compliance with D.C.’s 2022 ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco, Reuters said. In October 2022, D.C. banned the sale of all flavored tobacco — including flavored synthetic nicotine products.

“Swedish Match is conducting a full review of its sales and supply chain arrangements in D.C. and other U.S. localities where flavor bans may apply and is temporarily suspending all sales on ZYN.com until that assessment is complete,” a Philip Morris spokesperson told Reuters.