New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has recommended that India's top drug advisory body reject licence applications for manufacturing, importing and marketing new nicotine pouch formulations in 2mg, 4mg and 6mg strengths, citing concerns that the small, tobacco-free, flavoured sachets could undermine the country's efforts to curb nicotine use and protect public health, according to two government officials and a government document reviewed by Mint.

The applications before India's top drug advisory body, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), are for pouches containing different forms of nicotine, intended for smoking cessation and relief from withdrawal symptoms, amid concerns that they could encourag...