Probe Finds Nicotine Pouches Sold at Adani-Run Mumbai Airport Duty-Free Shops
An Indian government investigation has found that duty-free shops at Mumbai’s international airport, operated by an Adani Group-led joint venture, sold nicotine pouches without the required regulatory approvals, which authorities say violates the law. Officials have classified nicotine pouches as a drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and ordered the retailer to stop sales until the necessary licences and registrations are obtained.
The Adani Group has denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the law does not apply to duty-free outlets and that nicotine pouches should not be treated as drugs. The company has challenged the government’s interpretation in the Bombay High Court, saying products sold in international departure zones should be treated differently from those sold within India’s domestic market.
The case could set an important legal precedent for the regulation of duty-free sales across India. The High Court has temporarily barred coercive action against the existing stock of nicotine pouches and scheduled the next hearing for July 14. Authorities maintain that unlicensed sales of regulated products could attract strict penalties, while the government continues to view nicotine pouches as an emerging public health concern.
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