Govt approves Philip Morris nicotine pouch factory

• Philip Morris gets approval for nicotine factory
• Campaigners warn move undermines health goals
• Government ban, court ruling contradicted, critics say
• Beza defends approval, cites lower risk

The authorities have approved the Bangladeshi arm of global tobacco company Philip Morris to set up a factory in Narayanganj to produce nicotine pouches -- small, tea bag-like packets containing chemically synthesised nicotine, flavourings and other ingredients.

The decision has angered anti-tobacco campaigners, who say producing such pouches for the local market will further damage public health.

They also argue that the move contradicts the government ban on imports of all forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems and its pledge to make the country tobacco-free by 2040.

However, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), the state agency that granted the approval in April, has described nicotine pouches as "an anti-nicotine product". It maintains that there is no specific ban on producing or exporting such items in Bangladesh.

Beza, which operates under the Chief Adviser's Office, approved Philip Morris Bangladesh Limited to establish a fully domestically oriented factory at the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone in Narayanganj, according to an official document.

The approval came months after the commerce ministry banned the import of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems through a statutory regulatory order.

In May, the Chief Adviser's Office instructed Beza, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (Bepza) to prohibit the production of such products and to avoid issuing new approvals.

According to the official document, the project by Philip Morris Bangladesh involves an initial investment of $5.82 million and has the capacity to produce 536.3 million units annually. Under the approval conditions, the company must begin operations within a year.

Suman Chandra Bhowmik, general manager of Meghna Group, which set up the private economic zone, said they had provided approval from their end to supply Philip Morris Bangladesh with a ready-made facility.

"However, they have not yet commenced production," he said.

Meanwhile, sources said Philip Morris Bangladesh has sought environmental clearance from the Department of Environment.

The department, after reviewing the application last month, decided to seek approval for the product from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to official documents.

The FDA classifies nicotine pouches as a tobacco product. It says that although they may pose a lower risk than cigarettes for adult smokers, the products are not risk-free.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not approved nicotine pouches as a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

The US public health agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that nicotine is highly addictive and especially harmful to the youth population and pregnant women.

SYNTHETIC NICOTINE THE NEW TOBACCO?

The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, a coalition of local anti-smoking campaigners, has demanded that Philip Morris Bangladesh's approval be revoked.

In a recent statement, it said nicotine pouches are essentially "a new commercial strategy to create addiction among young people".

"Through misleading claims about helping people quit smoking, tobacco companies are concealing the true health hazards and attempting to turn young people into long-term consumers," the alliance said.

Campaigners say tobacco firms are increasingly turning to synthetic nicotine products worldwide as public awareness of the dangers of traditional tobacco grows.

Public health experts fear these new products could pose another threat to South Asian nations, where tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke and chronic respiratory illnesses are already high.

Tobacco use continues to claim thousands of lives each year and places a heavy burden on the health system and economy. The WHO estimates around 161,000 tobacco-related deaths occur in Bangladesh annually.

A WHO report published in early October said that while tobacco consumption in Bangladesh has declined over the past 15 years, it still remains higher than the global and regional averages.

Prof Arup Ratan Chowdhury, a member of the government's National Tobacco Control Taskforce, said nicotine pouches cause addiction, especially among young people who have never smoked.

"Those who try them believing they are harmless end up developing stronger nicotine dependence, which often leads to cigarette smoking," he said.

"As a dental surgeon, I can say that such tobacco products cause oral health problems, including gum disease and ulcers, which can progress to precancerous lesions and eventually cancer," he added.

"The issue is clear. This is a dangerous public health threat that must be addressed urgently," he told The Daily Star.

'APPROVING NEW TOBACCO HAS A HEFTY PRICE TAG'

Iftekhar Ahmed Sakib, chair of the National Youth Council, said allowing the production of nicotine pouches, a highly addictive and youth-targeted product, poses a serious threat to national health goals and the well-being of millions of young Bangladeshis.

He said approving new tobacco or nicotine ventures at this stage sends a dangerous signal that commercial interests can outweigh public health.

A 2019 study by the Bangladesh Cancer Society estimated that tobacco use cost the economy Tk 30,560 crore in treatment expenses and productivity losses during the fiscal year 2017-18.

In comparison, government revenue from tobacco amounted to Tk 22,810 crore in the same period, undermining arguments that stricter tobacco laws would hurt the economy.

Barrister Nishat Mahmood, member-secretary of the Public Health Lawyers Network, said the approval also goes against a 2016 Supreme Court verdict linked to a writ petition filed by late National Professor Nurul Islam, then president of Adhunik, an anti-tobacco organisation.

The ruling stated that the government must restrict new licences for tobacco industries and direct existing companies to switch to alternative businesses within a set timeframe.

"By approving harmful products like nicotine pouches, which the WHO has not recognised as a Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Beza has violated court directives and the constitution," she told The Daily Star.

BEZA SEES 'LOWER HEALTH RISK'

In a written response on October 28, Beza said Philip Morris Bangladesh had met all regulatory requirements for setting up a manufacturing unit in an economic zone.

Beza said there is no specific ban on producing or exporting nicotine pouches in Bangladesh and described the product as an "anti-nicotine" item approved by the US FDA.

"Therefore, we believe that the public health risk is lower compared to traditional cigarettes," Beza said.

It added that Philip Morris Bangladesh must submit an environmental impact assessment as part of the process, which the Department of Environment is still reviewing.

This newspaper emailed Philip Morris Bangladesh on October 25 seeking comment, but received no response till October 29. Repeated phone calls also went unanswered.