HAYPP’s Pouch Testing Standards

Testing helps verify product quality and composition. Understanding what is inside a pouch can help adult nicotine consumers choose the best product for them.

Key Takeaways

  • Haypp routinely tests nicotine pouches before listing them on site.
  • Testing is performed by an independent, accredited Swedish lab.
  • Nicotine pouch testing focuses on product composition, not health effects.
pouch-testing

Why HAYPP Tests Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine pouches are one of a range of alternative nicotine products covered by the Tobacco and Vapes Act in the UK. Nicotine pouch topics addressed by the Act include nicotine content (strength), flavours, packaging and marketing.

Our own testing provides product-specific information about characteristics such as nicotine content, pouch weight, moisture levels, and pH.

Published test results can help support transparency, consistency, and clearer product information for consumers.

Testing does not determine product safety or whether a product is risk free. Instead, it provides objective information about product contents, characteristics, and consistency against declared specifications and internal quality standards. 

We want to empower our consumers with accurate information. We believe that providing testing results improves transparency and product understanding. Testing does not determine whether a nicotine pouch is safe or risk free, but it does provide objective data about what a nicotine pouch contains. 

The results are used as part of an internal review process to identify whether a product aligns with declared specifications and relevant market standards. 

While we haven’t yet tested every nicotine pouch listed (although we are working on it!), we always test as part of our process when we are considering selling nicotine pouches from a new manufacturer.

What Is Tested?

Multiple product characteristics, including: 

Nicotine Content

The amount of nicotine per pouch is compared with the amount listed on the can (20 mg is our limit) 


pH Value
 

pH affects product chemistry and consistency 


Selected Substances
 

  • Trace metals
  • Tobaccospecific nitrosamines (TSNAs) 
  • Substances found in other tobacco products (but should not be in nicotine pouches)
  • Other factors relevant to product quality (e.g. moisture) 

NicoLeaks

Testing is performed by Eurofins, an independent third‑party laboratory in Sweden, with new results regularly posted on NicoLeaks.

NicoLeaks is maintained by HAYPP and shares laboratory results for a range of nicotine pouch products in several different markets.

This resource helps regulators, consumers, and researchers find objective product data in a consistent format. 

What Is in a NicoLeaks Report?

Test/Parameter Why It’s Tested
1) TSNAs (NAB, NAT, NNN, NNK) Cancer causing
2) Water content Impacts moisture and shelf life
3) Trace metals Found in many foods but harmful at high levels
4) Mycotoxins (moulds) Cancer causing, liver/kidney damage
5) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)  Cancer causing, environmental contaminant
6) pH Product chemistry and consistency
7) Pouch weight Used to calculate nicotine content per pouch
8) Microbial activity Spoilage risk
9) Nicotine Active ingredient
10) Humectants Impacts moisture and shelf life

What Testing Does (and Does Not) Mean

Testing:

  • Gives consumers objective data about the pouches they use
  • Provides transparency in a growing product category 

Testing does not:

  • Evaluate health risks
  • Demonstrate product safety (nicotine is an addictive substance, and no nicotine product should be considered risk free)