New Delhi, June 10 -- Nicotine pouches have emerged as a growing public health concern, exposing gaps in the country's tobacco-control framework, including the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA).

These small, tobacco-free, flavoured sachets, which are placed between the gum and lip to release nicotine, have gained popularity among the young population, especially working men, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR).

A multi-state assessment of points of sale, along with digital audits of online vendors and social media platforms, found nicotine content in these pouches ranging fr...