Minister of Health Jakob Forssmed is now entering the debate on nicotine pouches and harm reduction for smokers. In response to the recent controversy surrounding the behaviour of Swedish authorities in connection with the EU's forthcoming nicotine legislation, he wants to reassure Swedish users.
"I want to emphasise that compared to snus, cigarettes and smoking tobacco pose a relatively greater health risk. This view is reflected in the taxation of these products in Sweden, a diversification that the government has proposed to strengthen", Mr Forssmed said.
The political the discussion on nicotine pouches and harm minimisation for smokers in the EU continues in the Swedish Parliament. Critical questions about the failure of the Ministry of Social Affairs to act forcefully enough to defend nicotine pouches in the face of The EU's upcoming revision of the Tobacco Directive now has a Minister of Health Jakob Forssmed to react.
"I want to emphasise that compared to snus, cigarettes and smoking tobacco pose a relatively greater health risk. This approach is reflected in the taxation of these products in Sweden, a diversification that the government has proposed to strengthen" writes Jakob Forssmed who Answer to a question by Tobias Andersson (S&D).
Complicated situation in the EU
As previously reported by Vejpkollen, the several critical voices to highlight the upcoming EU legislation on new nicotine products. This is mainly about e-cigarettes, but also nicotine pouches - a product invented in Sweden that competes with other products in the nicotine market across the EU.
Nicotine pouches are regulated in Sweden since 2022, but unlike cigarettes and e-cigarettes, these products are not regulated at EU level. The European Commission wants to change this, and for the upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, the Commission asked an independent consultancy firm to provide feedback on the current legislation. This was done through a survey where individual countries and other stakeholders were asked to answer questions about new nicotine products. This included the Swedish Ministry of Social Affairs.
"Politically biased consultation"
But according to the newspaper Today's news the Ministry, led by Minister of Health Jakob Forssmed, was also invited to participate in an in-depth consultation on the Swedish legislation on new nicotine products. However, the Ministry declined.
The survey circulated in spring 2023, but also the subsequent consultation in the autumn, has been strongly criticised for being biased.
"It will be pure political propaganda to push through tougher legislation," said Mr Van Rompuy. Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at the Haypp group (which owns the retailer Snusbolaget) to Vejpkollen in the context of encouraging customers to to report the survey as biased with political intentions.
Just provided information
But according to Mr Forssmed, this was not something the government reacted to at the time.
"The Government Offices, with the support of the relevant authorities, have responded to the questionnaire from Open Evidence on the national implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive. Sweden has thus contributed the information that, based on the questions in the questionnaire, has been deemed relevant." answers Jakob Forssmed on the issue in Parliament.
Ombudsman complaint against the Ministry
As mentioned above, the Ministry has been criticised for its actions in the matter, which has resulted in an Ombudsman's report. notification from the Swedish Snus Association. According to the President of the Federation Samuel Lundell the department should have reported its answers.
"There are very many of us in Sweden who use nicotine pouches and snus and it should be obvious that our elected representatives show how they act to protect our interests. The government and parliament have decided to make a difference in how different nicotine products are regulated based on their harmfulness. How do we know that they are doing this in practice at EU level, when we are not told how they are handling this consultation?" says Samuel Lundell.
"Did not apply to nicotine portions"
But Jakob Forssmed believes that the questions in the survey only concerned how Sweden has complied with the European Tobacco Directive, a directive that currently applies to smoking tobacco and electronic cigarettes.
"The survey concerned questions on the implementation of the current regulation and not specifically nicotine pouches, which are currently not covered by the harmonised legislation." writes Jakob Forssmed.
"Not official positions"
The government has also been criticised for declining to take part in a workshop and then an in-depth interview with the consultancy firm behind the survey. They have now compiled a report for the European Commission, including proposals for future legislation.
"The invitation to the workshop organised by Open Evidence in October 2023 did not indicate that a report would be presented. The invitation was addressed to the competent authorities of the Member States. It was not a meeting where participants were expected to express any official positions on behalf of the Member States." writes Jakob Forssmed.
Committed to harm minimisation
At the same time, Jakob Forssmed said that the Swedish government is defending its decisions on harm minimisation in tobacco and nicotine policy.
'In this context, I would also like to emphasise that, compared to snus, cigarettes and smoking tobacco pose a relatively greater health risk. This view is reflected in the taxation of these products in Sweden, a diversification that the Government has proposed to strengthen. The exemption in connection with Sweden's entry into the EU, which allows the sale of and regulation of the content of snus in Sweden, was an important part of Sweden's membership in the EU. The Government safeguards this exemption," writes Jakob Forssmed.
EU Commission representatives have for several years repeatedly described new nicotine products as a danger to public health, according to several organisations working with harm minimisation for smokers, the Commission is likely to propose some form of ban against nicotine pouches and a ban on flavours in e-cigarettes in the spring. But this is still speculation.
