September 2026: DTI Requires Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches in the Philippines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has established mandatory product certification for nicotine pouches to enforce strict safety and quality standards across the market. Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 26-07, the regulation governs the manufacturing, importation, packaging, distribution, and retail sale of nicotine pouches throughout the country.
Key Regulatory Requirements
– Standard Compliance: Nicotine pouches must adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) reference procedures for nicotine content, pH levels, and water activity. Manufacturers must maintain in-plant testing capabilities or utilize a DTI-recognized laboratory.
– Mandatory Labeling: Retail packaging must explicitly declare nicotine content, allergens, usage and disposal instructions, alongside the official Philippine Standard (PS) certification mark.
– Graphic Health Warnings: Products must feature a highly visible, full-color graphic health warning detailing contraindications, potential drug interactions, precautions, and overdose protocols.
– Import and Toll-Packing Controls: Imported shipments require statements of confirmation and certificates of conditional release. Local and foreign toll-packing facilities must also register via a partner manufacturer holding a valid PS license.
The DTI has implemented a 12-month transition period to give companies adequate time to register existing stocks and align their operations with the new guidelines. Upon the conclusion of the transition window, only nicotine pouches backed by a valid PS license will be authorized for manufacture, import, distribution, or retail sale in the Philippines. Non-compliant items will be barred from the market.
August 2026: JTI Philippines Expands Nicotine Pouch Portfolio with Launch of Two New Nordic Spirit Variants
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has announced an expansion of its smoke-free product offerings, introducing two new flavor options to its Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch lineup across the Philippine market. First introduced locally in 2023, Nordic Spirit is positioned as a compact, discreet, smoke-free, and vapor-free nicotine product alternative. The expansion introduces Dark Pop and Red Frost, designed to cater to evolving taste preferences.
| Variant | Flavor Profile & Characteristics |
| Dark Pop | Features a tangy, fizzy, and aromatic profile delivering a refreshing sensory experience |
| Red Frost | Combines a clean, fresh base profile with a cool peppermint finish |
To ensure accessibility for adult consumers, JTI Philippines is rolling out the new Nordic Spirit variants across both digital and brick-and-mortar retail channels: Official Direct Channel (available online at nordicspirit.ph), E-Commerce & Delivery Platform (Shopee, Lazada, Pick.A.Roo, Foodpanda’s Pandamart, Ralph’s Wines and Spirits) and Convenience & Retail Chains (7-Eleven, Uncle John’s, Lawson, The Marketplace, Lighters Galore, Swebest).
The expansion of Nordic Spirit highlights JTI’s broader investment in product diversification within the local market. Alongside its smoke-free offerings, JTI Philippines maintains a portfolio in traditional tobacco, managing international brands such as Winston, Camel, Mevius, and LD, as well as local heritage brands Mighty and Marvels. JTI Philippines currently operates nearly 40 branch offices across the archipelago, supported by a workforce of approximately 5,500 employees. The company’s core infrastructure includes its corporate headquarters and Global Business Services center in Taguig City, alongside a major manufacturing plant in Malvar, Batangas.
June 2026: ZYN Expands Flavor Portfolio in the Philippines with Cool Breeze and Tropical Variants
Philip Morris International’s nicotine pouch brand, ZYN, has announced the addition of two new flavor options – Cool Breeze and Tropical – aimed at adult nicotine users seeking smoke-free alternatives. Cool Breeze is a mint-style variant with a cooling sensation, designed for users who prefer a fresh, menthol-like profile. Tropical delivers a fruit-forward flavor profile with a sweeter, more exotic taste direction. The new launches broaden the brand’s flavor portfolio and come in 1.5 mg and 3 mg nicotine strengths.
The new variants form part of ZYN’s broader effort to expand its presence in the growing nicotine pouch category. The flavors are available through ZYN’s Philippine sales channels, including online and retail distribution points. The launch reflects ongoing innovation in the nicotine pouch segment, where manufacturers are increasingly using new flavors and formats to attract adult nicotine users and differentiate their offerings.
April 2026: Philippines Moves Toward Mandatory Certification for Nicotine Pouches
The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing mandatory certification for nicotine pouches under a draft administrative order, aiming to tighten product quality control and curb the circulation of non-compliant products. Under the proposal, nicotine pouches could only be imported, distributed, or sold if they are manufactured in facilities holding a valid Philippine Standard (PS) license, effectively excluding alternative certification routes such as import clearance schemes. The draft rules set technical standards, including limits on nicotine content, pH levels suitable for oral use, and a prohibition on substances classified as dangerous drugs. Detailed labeling, packaging, and testing requirements would also be introduced, with both in-house and independent laboratory verification.
The initiative is part of a broader regulatory push under the country’s framework for novel nicotine products, with authorities seeking public and industry feedback before finalizing the rules. A transition period is expected to allow businesses time to comply. Overall, the move signals a shift toward a more structured and standardized regulatory regime for nicotine pouches in the Philippines, with an emphasis on consumer safety and market oversight.
October 2025: Philip Morris will launch ZYN Bright Green Limited Edition
Philip Morris International (PMI) will launch ZYN Bright Green 1.5mg as the first limited edition product in the nicotine pouch category in the Philippines. ZYN Bright Green 1.5mg delivers a distinctly zesty taste experience and will be exclusively available at IQOS stores in Metro Manila and on zyn.com official online store from November 2025. With a modern, bold design, ZYN aims to set the standard for smoke-free alternatives, celebrate personal rhythms and elevate everyday moments.
August 2025: Nordic Spirit continues to lead the nicotine pouch category in the Philippines
First launched by Nordic Spirit in 2023 in the Philippines, nicotine pouches remain a new product in the nicotine category. However, particularly across major convenience store chains, awareness and availability of the product is increasing. According to the sale data from leading convenience stores, Japan Tobacco’s Nordic Spirit ranks as the top-selling nicotine pouch brand in the country for five consecutive months, from February to June 2025 – ahead of the global leader, ZYN owned by Philip Morris International.
May 2025: ZYN nicotine pouches are now avilable in over 1,500 stores in the Philippines
Philip Morris International (PMI) launched ZYN in the Philippines in 2023. Over the past two years, ZYN has expanded its availability to over 1,500 stores nationwide, including in Cebu, Sta. Rosa, and Davao. Most recently, ZYN hosted the ZYN Summer Experience in La Union, one of the Philippines’ most iconic summer destination, in ealy-May 2025 to showcase the convenience and freedom of ZYN nicotine pouches. The weekend featured coffee-infused sessions to energize the mornings as well as sunset sessions to conclude the days with the aim to highlight the versatility and ease of ZYN pouches.
ZYN is a popular nicotine pouch brand. ZYN pouch is a slim product made of a tea bag-like material, contain plant-based fibres, flavouring, and nicotine extract that can be used orally by placing the pouch under your upper lip.
Meanwhile, Japan Tobacco (JT) reported an explosive 23% month-on-month growth in Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch sales in the Philippines. JT became the first tobacco major to launch a nicotine pouch product in the Philippines in May 2023. Nordic Spirit is currently available in the Philippines at 7-Eleven, Uncle John’s Lawson, The Marketplace, Lighters Galore, Food Panda, and Swebest. It can also be purchased online via Lazada and Shopee. Nicotine pouches are available in two formats: can of 20 nicotine pouches, retailing at ₱135 (US$2.4), and pocket pack of 5 nicotine pouches, retailing at ₱35 (US$0.63).
According to a recent JT survey of 7,000 consumers, 80% of the respondents reported a positive experience using nicotine pouches. Consumers appreciate the product’s convenience and discreetness the most – the fact that it can be used in the office, in the car, or on a flight.
Smokeless in the Philippines
Betel nut chewing, “nganga”, was described as being an universal practice among older people in the Philippines in the early 1900s. The most common configuration of the quid combines areca nut with slaked lime (usually made from heating crushed sea-shells), all wrapped in a betel leaf (tambul or siri). Tobacco may or may not be added. In modern times, it has grown out of favor and has been replaced by cigarettes and chewing gum. Today, the practice only survives among certain ethnic groups of the Philippines.
