LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - British American Tobacco ( BTI )

will launch a version of its Velo nicotine pouches

using synthetic nicotine in the United States, David Waterfield,

President of the company's U.S. subsidiary Reynolds American

said on Wednesday.

BAT products usually contain naturally occurring nicotine

derived from the tobacco plant, whereas synthetic nicotine is

made in a lab from chemicals.