Last year Tamarind Intelligence conducted our fourth survey of members of the European Parliament (MEPs), seeking to understand how much MEPs know about new nicotine products, and what views they hold on these products and their regulation.

We found that MEPs’ views on novel nicotine products and smoking cessation are very mixed. Many do believe that novel products can help smokers quit, but an increasing number are concerned that novel products – especially pouches –  will lead to smoking.

MEPs who have some knowledge of these products tend to consider them less risky than smoking; but those without knowledge are significantly less likely to believe this.

While only 7% of MEPs were  unsure of the risks in 2025, much lower than in preceding years, those who consider new nicotine products at least as or more harmful than smoking have increased from 19% to 33%. This decline in “don’t know”s and corresponding increase in the “more harmful” and “less harmful” groups could be interpreted as a sign of increasing division into pro- and anti- camps.
On the question of which novel products are least risky, nicotine pouches continue to improve their position while vapour continues to decline. Pouches are now seen as the least risky product category for more than half of MEPs; it will be interesting to see if this continues, given a growing amount of negative media coverage and public discourse.
Nearly half of MEPs disagree that nicotine is as harmful as tobacco – a big increase compared to previous years. This will be seen as good news by advocates of reduced-risk products, who have been concerned in recent years about the exaggeration of risks inherent in nicotine itself.
Overall, about half of MEPs still believe that all three main categories of novel product will help smokers quit, although the numbers who believe this have been declining slightly. And at the same time, the numbers who see novel products as an “on-ramp” – ultimately leading people to smoke – have been increasing. This is especially noticeable where nicotine pouches are concerned. When it comes to forming opinions about potential regulation, views on this issue may be as important as attitudes on relative risk.
Overall, a small majority of MEPs think that novel nicotine products without tobacco (i.e. vapes and nicotine pouches) should be regulated in the same way as traditional tobacco products – the highest proportion since our surveys began. A quarter of MEPs disagree. But even if all the currently “neutral” and “don’t know” respondents decided to support lighter regulation of nicotine-free novel products, they would still fall short of a majority.
About us

Tamarind Intelligence is the leading provider of detailed global market and regulatory analysis, legal tracking, and quantitative data for the e-cigarette, novel nicotine and cannabis sectors worldwide. We provide our clients with the tools to navigate these fast-moving sectors, tailor their business strategy, optimise resources, and make informed decisions. Our global perspective on these international sectors offers valuable data such as market trends, key players, regulatory obligations and industry dynamics.

Tamarind Intelligence also produces CannIntelligence, TobaccoIntelligence and ECigIntelligence

t: +34 938 585 526

e: info@tamarindintelligence.com

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Tamarind Intelligence

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