Chill Brands Group PLC said on Wednesday it will end future development and U.S. sales of its line of tobacco-free nicotine products in response to additional U.S. regulatory restrictions on synthetic nicotine products.
According to Market Watch, the London-listed company said the additional restrictions on products would incur huge costs for manufacturers and retailers, and that it was working with international partners to move surplus synthetic nicotine stocks into sales .
All other Chill products are not affected.
The company said Congress passed a federal funding bill in March to revise the definition of tobacco products, giving the Food and Drug Administration authority over synthetic nicotine — including Chill’s tobacco-free nicotine chewing pouch product, which was launched in December.
As a result, Chill will be required to submit a premarket tobacco product application to legally keep its products on sale, a process that could exceed the full cost of $400,000 per flavor and which it believes is not commercially viable.
"It's naturally disappointing, but at least this decision will allow us to avoid spending more money that will be better allocated to develop other products and potential revenue streams." Chief Executive Callum Somerton Sommerton) said.