No, ZYN nicotine pouches aren't banned. In fact, the opposite just happened. On January 16, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration authorized 20 ZYN products, marking the first time the agency has authorized nicotine pouch products for sale in the U.S.
This is huge news for ZYN users, but there's a catch: local flavor bans in cities like Washington DC and San Francisco still restrict flavored tobacco products, even though ZYN is legally marketed in the U.S. at the federal level. Keep reading to learn more.
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FDA Authorizes 20 ZYN Products: What This Means
After an extensive scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration authorized 20 ZYN nicotine pouches on January 16, 2025. This makes ZYN the first tobacco-free nicotine pouch to receive marketing authorization in the U.S.
The authorized products include 10 flavors, each available in 3mg and 6mg nicotine strengths (making them 20 products in total):
- ZYN Cinnamon 3mg
- ZYN Cinnamon 6mg
- ZYN Citrus 3mg
- ZYN Citrus 6mg
- ZYN Coffee 3mg
- ZYN Coffee 6mg
- ZYN Cool Mint 3mg
- ZYN Cool Mint 6mg
- ZYN Menthol 3mg
- ZYN Menthol 6mg
- ZYN Peppermint 3mg
- ZYN Peppermint 6mg
- ZYN Smooth 3mg
- ZYN Smooth 6mg
- ZYN Spearmint 3mg
- ZYN Spearmint 6mg
- ZYN Chill 3mg
- ZYN Chill 6mg
- ZYN Wintergreen 3mg
- ZYN Wintergreen 6mg
The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products determined these specific ZYN products met the public health standard required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
According to Matthew Farrelly, Ph.D., director of the Office of Science, the agency found that the products pose lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions than cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco and snuff.
Evidence from studies showed that a substantial proportion of adults who use cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products completely switched to the newly authorized nicotine pouch products, providing benefits to public health.
The authorization applies only to these 20 specific products. Other ZYN products, including 1.5mg and 9mg strength options, are not authorized. This distinction matters because only authorized products can be legally marketed and sold as compliant with FDA regulations.
However, FDA authorization does not mean these tobacco products are "FDA approved" or safe.
Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, emphasized that there is no safe tobacco product and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start. The authorized products remain restricted to adults 21 and older, and the agency can suspend or withdraw marketing authorization if youth use increases notably or if the public health standard is no longer met.
Where ZYN Is Restricted: DC and San Francisco Bans
Here's where things get complicated. FDA authorization doesn't override local flavor bans.
Even though the Food and Drug Administration authorized these ZYN products federally, cities like Washington DC and San Francisco can still ban flavored tobacco and nicotine products under their own laws. Both cities took major enforcement actions against the makers of ZYN and retailers in 2024, resulting in millions of dollars in settlements.
Washington DC: $1.2 Million to Resolve Flavor Ban Violations
Washington DC banned the sale of flavored tobacco products on October 1, 2022. In December 2024, Swedish Match North America LLC (a subsidiary of tobacco giant Philip Morris International) paid $1.2 million to resolve allegations that the company facilitated tens of thousands of sales of flavored products in DC. After the Office of the Attorney General opened an investigation, Swedish Match quickly halted nationwide sales from shop.zyn.com.
The settlement revealed that from October 2022 through June 2024, Swedish Match violated DC's ban on flavored nicotine pouches by shipping products like ZYN to DC consumers. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb made it clear:
"Flavored tobacco products like ZYN pouches are banned in the District precisely because they are dangerous, addictive, and threaten to reverse the enormous progress we've made in reducing tobacco use amongst young people."
Under the settlement, Swedish Match must now monitor distributors quarterly, take steps to end violations, and send annual compliance reminders about DC's flavor ban. Only "unflavored" ZYN products (Chill and Smooth) can be sold in DC.
San Francisco: $3 Million Settlement for Flavor Ban Violations
San Francisco's flavored tobacco ban has been in effect since 2017. In October 2024, City Attorney David Chiu secured a $3 million settlement with online tobacco retailers accused of skirting the ban through online ZYN sales. Rogue Holdings and Swisher International paid $485,000 combined, while Northerner Scandinavia paid $2.5 million.
The settlement forces these companies to post language on their websites stating that flavored products are prohibited in San Francisco. City Attorney Chiu emphasized that "these online retailers are not above our San Francisco laws and cannot ship banned products into our city."
Like DC, San Francisco only allows "unflavored" ZYN products (Chill and Smooth) despite the federal FDA authorization of flavored varieties.
Regarding "Unflavored" Products
You might notice ZYN markets Chill and Smooth as "Flavor Ban Approved" or "unflavored." This creates confusion. While these products don't contain traditional characterizing flavors like mint, menthol, fruit, or candy listed in tobacco control laws, they do create cooling sensations and slight sweetness. They use cooling agents rather than menthol or mint flavoring, which is why most jurisdictions accept them as compliant with flavor bans.
Whether this distinction holds up depends on each jurisdiction's specific definition of "characterizing flavor" under their local tobacco and nicotine product regulations. So far, DC and San Francisco accept Chill and Smooth as unflavored, but other cities might interpret their laws differently.
How FDA Monitors ZYN After Authorization
The FDA didn't just authorize these ZYN nicotine pouches and walk away, mind you. The agency imposed stringent marketing restrictions to prevent youth exposure and will closely monitor whether the products continue to meet the public health standard.
All advertising for the authorized products must be carefully targeted to adults 21 and older. The demographics of audiences reached by ads must be tracked and measured by Swedish Match. No actors or models younger than 35 can appear in marketing, and content cannot include characters, images, or themes designed to target youth. The company also committed to avoiding mass-market advertising on radio and TV.
The 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 1.8% of U.S. middle and high school students currently used nicotine pouches. While this rate remains relatively low compared to vapes and other tobacco products, the FDA emphasized it will take action if youth use increases. Brian King stated:
"While current data show that youth use remains low, the FDA is closely monitoring the marketplace and is committed to taking action, as appropriate, to best protect public health."
If youth initiation increases notably, or if Swedish Match violates marketing restrictions, the FDA can suspend or withdraw the marketing authorization. This means ZYN's legal status could change if the products no longer meet the required public health standard or if marketing techniques appear to target younger nicotine users.
Where to Buy FDA-Authorized ZYN in 2026
You can buy FDA-authorized ZYN nicotine pouches from licensed tobacco retailers across the U.S. This includes online stores like Snusdaddy, as well as convenience stores, gas stations, and tobacco shops. All retailers must verify you're 21 and older before completing any sale of tobacco and nicotine products.
When buying ZYN, confirm the product is on the FDA's authorized list. Only the 3mg and 6mg strengths in the 10 flavors listed above received marketing authorization. If you see other strengths or flavors, they haven't gone through the extensive scientific review process and aren't authorized for legal sale. Worse, they may be fake.
Snusdaddy verifies age on every order and honors local shipping restrictions. We stock FDA-authorized ZYN products and ensure compliance with both federal regulations and local flavor bans. This means we cannot ship flavored ZYN to Washington DC or San Francisco, where only Chill and Smooth (the "unflavored" options) are permitted under local tobacco control laws.
Before ordering, check whether your city or state has enacted a ban on flavored tobacco products. Some jurisdictions passed flavor bans similar to DC and San Francisco's restrictions. While ZYN is legally marketed in the U.S. at the federal level, you're responsible for knowing your local regulations.
ZYN Alternatives if Your Area Has Restrictions
If flavored ZYN is restricted in your area due to a ban on flavored tobacco products, other nicotine pouch options exist. Brands like ON!, VELO, Nordic Spirit, and other brands offer tobacco-free nicotine pouches in various strengths and flavors and are available at Snusdaddy.
Keep in mind these brands haven't received FDA marketing authorization yet. They're still under review through the premarket tobacco product application process. Like ZYN, they're legal to sell during the review period, require age verification for adults 21 and older, and may face similar local flavor bans depending on your jurisdiction.
Products like these nicotine pouch alternatives use similar tobacco-free formats with nicotine salt, so the experience is comparable to ZYN. Read our ZYN vs ON! and ZYN vs VELO comparison articles to know the difference between these brands and ZYN to help you decide which one to try out and use.
ZYN Ban FAQs
Are other nicotine pouch brands FDA-authorized like ZYN?
No. As of January 2025, ZYN is the first and only nicotine pouch brand with FDA-authorized products. Other brands like ON!, VELO, and Nordic Spirit are still under review through the premarket tobacco product application process and haven't received marketing authorization yet.
What happens if I try to order flavored ZYN to DC or San Francisco?
Licensed retailers like Snusdaddy will block shipments of flavored ZYN to these jurisdictions to comply with local laws. Only Chill and Smooth (marketed as unflavored) can be shipped to Washington DC and San Francisco. Retailers who violated these bans faced multi-million dollar settlements in 2024.
Does FDA authorization mean ZYN is healthier than vaping or cigarettes?
The FDA found ZYN poses lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions than cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco. However, no tobacco product is safe. The authorization is based on public health benefits for adults who completely switch from cigarettes, not a declaration that ZYN is "healthy."
Can stores sell non-authorized ZYN strengths like 9mg?
No. Only the 20 authorized products (10 flavors in 3mg and 6mg) can be legally marketed and sold as FDA-compliant. Other strengths haven't gone through the extensive scientific review process and don't have marketing authorization.
Bottom Line: ZYN Legal Status Moving Forward
The Food and Drug Administration authorized 20 ZYN nicotine pouches on January 16, 2025, marking the first time the agency has authorized nicotine pouch products. ZYN is legally marketed in the U.S. federally, but local flavor bans in Washington DC and San Francisco still restrict flavored tobacco products. Only Chill and Smooth can be sold in these cities.
Check your local laws before ordering. Buy only FDA-authorized products (3mg or 6mg strengths) from licensed retailers like us at Snusdaddy that verify age 21 and older and honor shipping restrictions.
Information Accuracy: Updated November 2025 with latest FDA authorization and settlement details from Washington DC and San Francisco. Sources include FDA.gov, DC Office of the Attorney General, and SF City Attorney announcements.
