Zyn Melts: Philip Morris International launches soluble nicotine tablets in the UK and Switzerland

In September 2026, Philip Morris International (PMI) launched Zyn Melts in the UK and Switzerland: tobacco-free nicotine tablets that are placed between the upper lip and gum and dissolve completely in seven to eight minutes. Available in low doses (1 and 2 mg) and two menthol flavors, they are marketed as a discreet product, usable both indoors and outdoors, and free samples are offered to new customers. With this launch, the Zyn brand expands its range of new nicotine products. The product arrives on the UK market, where oral nicotine use is increasing, particularly among young adults, just weeks before the Tobacco and Vapes Act comes into effect on October 29, 2026, banning the free distribution of nicotine products.

A nicotine tablet designed for discretion and low dosage

Zyn Melts are sold in boxes of 20 tablets, priced at £6.50 in the UK and 5.90 Swiss francs in Switzerland.[1], Discounts of up to 30% are offered for group purchases.[2]. The range includes four varieties, each combining two flavors (Cool Mint and Peppermint) and two dosages of 1 mg and 2 mg per tablet. Marketed as tobacco-free and sugar-free, the tablets contain nicotine salts and food flavorings. They should not be chewed or swallowed, but saliva may be swallowed during dissolution.[3].

The marketing pitch rests on three arguments: zero waste, with a product that is "100% soluble," discretion, with "no smoke, no vapor, no odor," and the possibility of consumption both indoors and outdoors. The tablet thus differs from the nicotine sachet, which lasts 30 to 60 minutes and must then be discarded, while the tablet disappears in a few minutes. Its dosages are also currently lower than those of Zyn sachets sold in the United Kingdom, which range from 1.5 to 16.5 mg.

Zyn Melts are sold on the Zyn and IQOS websites, in IQOS stores, and through specialized online retailers. New customers who certify they are of legal age and use nicotine products can also receive two free sample boxes, with no shipping costs.

Multiplying formats to expand the market and entry points to nicotine consumption

This launch is part of a diversification strategy common to tobacco manufacturers. Since acquiring Swedish Match in 2022, PMI has been leveraging Zyn, the world's leading brand of nicotine pouches, alongside its IQOS heated tobacco product, to roll out its market recovery strategy. Selling Zyn Melts through the IQOS distribution network makes this network a gateway between the group's various products. The "Zyn Melts" trademark was also registered in February 2026 in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States.[4], This suggests the possibility of deployment beyond the first two markets.

Each new format, whether sachets, tablets, sticks, vaping products, or heated tobacco, opens a new gateway to nicotine consumption. It also allows companies to capitalize on the lag between a product's market launch and its regulatory impact, as recently demonstrated by Japan Tobacco International's launch of tobacco-free nicotine sticks in Romania.[5]. Discreet, low-dose, flavored, and waste-free, a product of this type can attract people who have never used nicotine, beyond just smokers. In the European Union, tobacco-free oral nicotine products are not currently covered by the Tobacco Products Directive, which is currently under revision.

In the United Kingdom, consumption is rising and the regulatory framework is tightening.

The latest annual survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), conducted by YouGov from February 18 to March 19, 2026, among 13,259 adults, and then from April 3 to May 6, 2026, among 2,926 young people aged 11 to 17, confirms the increase in the consumption of nicotine pouches.[6]. 1.4% of British adults currently use nicotine sachets, and 6.6% have tried them. Among 18-34 year olds, current consumption is projected to increase from 1.2% in 2023 to 31% in 2026, while it remains below 0.3% among those aged 55 and over. Men are more affected than women (21% versus 0.9%). Awareness of nicotine sachets has also increased significantly, rising from 45% to 62% among adults between 2023 and 2026 and from 38% to 48% among young people between 2024 and 2026. Finally, 3.2% of 11-17 year olds have already tried them, representing approximately 180,000 children and adolescents.

The Tobacco and Vapes Act, which received Royal Assent on April 29, 2026, covers nicotine products, including sachets. From October 29, 2026, it prohibits the free distribution of samples and the sale of nicotine sachets to minors. The ban on advertising and sponsorship will apply from June 1, 2027. The rules concerning the packaging, design, and in-store presentation of these products are open for public consultation until October 2, 2026.

In Scotland, ASH Scotland and the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), which represents the heads of trading practices enforcement agencies, are calling for a ban on vaping devices and nicotine pouches being displayed on shelves, removing them from view in shops, similar to regulations for tobacco products. This call is based on a ScotPulse survey commissioned by ASH Scotland and conducted from July 24 to 28, 2026, among 1,061 adults living in Scotland, 86 of whom support the measure.[7]. Chris Bell, chairman of SCOTSS, emphasizes that these displays, "colourful, visible and eye-catching", make nicotine products more visible and attractive to children, young people and non-smokers. The Scottish government has committed, in its program, to making progress in this area.

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[1] PMI Launches ZYN Melts in UK, Extending ZYN Beyond Nicotine Pouches Into Dissolvable Tablets, 2Firsts, September 29, 2026, accessed September 30, 2026

[2] ZYN Melts, Tobacco Insider, accessed September 30, 2026

[3] Discover ZYN Melts: Dissolvable Nicotine Tablets, ZYN UK, accessed on September 30, 2026.

[4] Zyn Adds Dissolvable Nicotine Melts in UK, Nicotine Insider, September 8, 2026, accessed September 30, 2026

[5] Japan Tobacco launches new tobacco-free nicotine sticks in Romania, Tobacco-Free Generation, published on July 10, 2026, accessed on September 30, 2026

[6] Nicotine pouches, ASH, 2026, accessed on September 30, 2026.

[7] Nearly nine in 10 back forcing shops to hide vapes and nicotine pouches – poll, PA dispatch, September 30, 2026, accessed September 30, 2026.