FDA authorizes Zyn nicotine pouches as lower-risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, that it will allow Philip Morris International to market its Zyn nicotine pouches as presenting a lower risk of certain diseases than cigarettes. The decision authorizes the company to use specific language for 20 varieties of Zyn, stating that using the pouches instead of cigarettes puts consumers at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

The agency emphasized that the order does not declare the products safe but is intended to provide adult smokers with clear, science-based information about relative harms. In a statement, the FDA said its review found the authorized products would significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease for individual users and benefit public health overall. The decision was based on evidence showing the pouches expose users to substantially fewer harmful chemicals than combustible cigarettes.

Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said the agency’s modified-risk review process is designed to ensure adult consumers can make informed choices. Stacey Kennedy, Philip...