Twenty-four VELO nicotine pouch products can now be lawfully sold in the United States. The FDA issued Marketing Granted Orders for them on Oct. 30, 2026, the first US authorizations for BAT's VELO brand.

The FDA's rule for the whole category is simple. Per its authorized products list, the 67 pouch products on it are "the only nicotine pouch products that may be lawfully sold in the United States." VELO is now on that list.

What exactly got authorized

The orders went to Modoral Brands Inc., a Reynolds American subsidiary, under the PMTA (premarket tobacco product application) pathway. Every product is 4 mg nicotine and 400 mg per pouch.

There are two product lines, four flavors each:

• VELO Mini Pouch: Crema, Lime, Orange Crema, Passion Fruit
• VELO Mini Pouch 2: Crema, Lime, Orange Crema, Cinnamon

That's eight product names. The FDA counts each in three packaging configurations, listed on its authorized products page as Container 1, 2 and 3, so the total is 24 unique products.

The packaging matters legally. The FDA says it affects stability, shelf life, moisture and safety, so it's part of what gets reviewed and authorized. All three configurations use certified child-resistant packaging, which the agency has previously urged pouch makers to adopt to reduce accidental poisoning risk in young children.

How it got through

The products were reviewed under the FDA's nicotine pouch pilot program, which the agency describes as a more efficient, streamlined review process. The standard behind the decision is whether a product could benefit adults who switch completely from other tobacco products, weighed against risks to youth and nonusers.

On the science, the FDA said the authorized products contain lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents than cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Several carcinogenic constituents, including ones associated with oral cancer, were below measurable levels.

The FDA also stressed that authorization does not mean the products are safe. Adults who use tobacco need to switch completely to potentially lower-risk alternatives to get the full health benefit, the agency said.

Where this leaves the US market

The 67-product list now includes ZYN, marketed by Swedish Match USA, and Altria's Helix Innovations, which has on! at 2 mg and 4 mg in Autumn Spice, Cappuccino and Rich Berry, plus on! PLUS at 6 mg and 9 mg in Mint, Tobacco and Wintergreen. VELO's authorization puts BAT alongside those two competitors on the federal list.

The list also shows how narrow an authorization is. It names the exact strength, flavor and container, so those specifics define what counts as lawful. For VELO, that means 4 mg across eight flavored product names, not the brand as a whole.

For retailers, the practical test is whether the exact product in the exact packaging appears on the FDA list. The authorization came on Oct. 30, and the FDA's list was updated to reflect it. You can see how VELO's range looks on PouchFinder.

What's next

Watch the FDA's authorized products list. It is the document that settles what can lawfully be sold, and it's where any further VELO additions, or additions from other manufacturers, will show up first.

SOURCES: FDA — FDA Authorizes Marketing of 24 Velo Nicotine Pouches; FDA — Nicotine Pouch Products Authorized by the FDA; Tobacco Reporter — FDA Authorizes 24 VELO Pouch Products