An increase of almost 500% in the tax on white snus. This is the content of a leaked proposal to the European Commission intended to create a so-called harmonisation of taxes on different nicotine products within the EU. Now consumers and retailers are up in arms.
"Sweden must defend its successful tobacco model and put the brakes on any EU initiatives that move in the opposite direction. The Swedish government must now act and make clear its opposition to these plans within the EU." says Samuel Lundell, President of the National Association of Snus Users.
It is the Swedish retailer The snus company that drew attention the proposal that is now being finalised for decision by the European Commission. According to the document In the future, the EU will set a minimum level for the taxes that individual countries levy on different nicotine products.
Reduce smoking to Swedish levels
In the past, only cigarettes and smoking tobacco have been subject to EU directives on taxation. However, under the upcoming proposal, e-liquid (and e-cigarettes) and white snus will also be subject to a minimum tax. For vejp products, a similar tax that already exists in Sweden (€2 to €4 per millilitre depending on the nicotine concentration). But for the white snus, nicotine pouches, the situation is different.
"They are proposing a tax that is radically higher than the one we have decided on in Sweden. Today the tax is SEK 207 per kilo for nicotine pouches. The EU proposal calls for 1360 SEK per kilo. That's an increase of 500 per cent," says Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Snusbolaget/Haypp Group.
"Losing an important weapon"
According to Markus Lindblad and Snusbolaget, the sharply increased tax on white snus will dramatically reduce the incentives for Swedish smokers to switch from cigarettes to nicotine pouches.
"We risk losing an important weapon to further reduce smoking. It's really serious" says Markus Lindblad.
Smoking less and snuffing more
The aim of the European tobacco policy is to reduce smoking in the Union to 5 % by 2040. Today, on average, 20% of the adult population in the EU smokes, in some countries like Bulgaria it is over 30%. But Sweden is ahead. Today, only 5.4% of the population smokes regularly. More Swedes are using snus and more people are using e-cigarettes. According to data from the Swedish Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, nicotine use has neither increased nor decreased since 2019. Thus, while the use of vejps and nicotine pouches has increased, smoking has decreased.
"Very successful policy"
According to Samuel Lundell, President of the Consumers' Association National Snus Association, it is clear that the relatively permissive policy on smoke-free nicotine products has had positive effects.
"Sweden has had a successful tobacco policy. By taxing tobacco and nicotine products based on the real risk they pose, Swedish consumers have moved away from cigarettes in favour of less harmful nicotine products such as snus and white snus." says Samuel Lundell.
Not a development we want
Despite the heated debate on nicotine use, in particular on white snus and vejps among adolescents, Mr Lundell argues that developments in Sweden should be judged by the results.
"The more people who never start smoking, the better. If young people choose snus or e-cigs instead of cigarettes, it is after all an important factor for public health in the future. This is certainly not the case in other EU countries, where cigarette smoking is still above 20%, traditional snus is banned and white snus is under threat along with e-cigarettes. I don't think anyone wants to see this kind of development in Sweden." says Samuel Lundell.
"Politicians must stand up for Sweden"
He is concerned that a sharp increase in the tax on nicotine pouches threatens the Swedish model for managing nicotine use. He therefore urges Swedish politicians to stand up to their peers in the European Commission.
"It is now more important than ever that our elected representatives dare to stand up for what we do, and succeed with, in Sweden. It's a wise concept, although as a consumer I would like to see even lower taxes on smoke-free products compared to cigarettes, especially on snus, of course. But our politicians need to act fast now and make sure to stop this strange proposal" says Samuel Lundell.
