Kenyan lawmakers want the government to stop selling a type of nicotine pouches that are popular in the country.
Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha said in parliament that Velo is a new name for a nicotine product made by British American Tobacco (BAT). The product used to be called Lyft, but it was declared illegal in 2022 by the previous Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe.
Mr Kagwe decided to remove Lyft from its registered status because there were allegations that it obtained its license and registration unlawfully.
There are no nicotine pouches made in our country, so we have to import all of them. Miss Nakhumicha said this.
The BBC has reached out to BAT for a comment, but they have not received a response.
Health experts say Kenya is seeing a comeback of really addictive nicotine products that were banned by the Ministry of Health.
The Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance, which is a group from society, stated that stopping the sale of nicotine pouches would save a whole generation from dying, getting sick, or being disabled.
Kenya uses a law from 2007 to help make decisions about tobacco products.
The person in charge of health said a group of experts will examine the rule and give more suggestions.
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