CICC responds to rumoured loosening of c-store nicotine pouch ban
As reported in The National Post, the federal government is “considering loosening some of its rules around the sale of nicotine pouches that could see the increasingly popular product sold in Canadian convenience stores.”
In an article dated September 9, reporter Christopher Nardi stated that the anonymous government source insisted that no decision has been taken yet and the file isn’t a priority. However, the same source claims that there is an “openess” to change, citing pressures from industry advocacy groups.
“CICC has engaged directly with governments on the retailing of nicotine products and the consequences of the current pouch ban in our channel—for the past two years the underlying case hasn't changed,” said Anne Kothawala, president and chief executive officer of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) in an emailed statement to CSNC.
“Convenience stores have a proven record retailing age-gated products, from tobacco to lottery to, in some provinces, alcohol, with the strongest compliance rates of any retail channel in the country,” added Kothawala. “It defies logic that these same retailers are barred from selling nicotine pouches to the very population—current smokers—who rely on them most.”
READ: Federal ban on nicotine pouches sparks national collaboration
Nicotine pouches like Zonnic are a controversial product that was strictly regulated since 2024. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been an advocate to allow their sales in convenience stores. Though Zonnic is the only pouch tobacco that is approved by Health Canada to be sold in this country, convenience stores can not sell it.
While pouches still represent a health risk, they also present a revenue stream from consumers who are using them as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
In CSNC’s 2026 Tobacco + Vaping Report, Chris Daniels writes, “more than half of successful quits in 2024 were achieved without formal supports, while NRTs such as nicotine gum and the flavoured nicotine pouch Zonnic accounted for about 25% of quits.”
Some advocacy groups and tobacco companies argued that prohibiting nicotine pouches fuelled the flames for the illicit tobacco trade. Imperial Tobacco urged the federal government to build a national plan to fight illegal cigarettes and nicotine products. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH) personally removed online ads for pouches and illegal tobacco products, and asked the government to take stronger action against illicit vapes and pouches.
“We understand and share the government's goal of keeping these products out of the hands of youth; as responsible, respected retailers, we want to be part of that solution, not sidelined from it,” Kothawala continued in CICC’s statement. “ What we're seeing instead is a contraband market that grows by the day, because outright prohibition doesn't eliminate demand—it simply redirects it to criminals who ask no questions at all.
“We welcome an open, honest, fact-based conversation with government, and we encourage the federal government to reverse a policy that is failing both public health and public safety."
