The ban of snus in the European Union was with of Sweden negotiations around the European Union membership 1994 a large problem. The strong public opinion required that the right to use snus was defended and retained Sweden. It succeeded to get Sweden finally a special permission. A condition was however that Sweden had to commit itself to drive no snus out to the other member states.

A big snus producer in sweden has that view that the selling prohibition is discriminating against snus and must be waived. The prohibition is a marketing limitation on a market, which is to be marked by free stock movements.

Due to the unclear law situation in EU this question would have to be judicially examined and be submitted in this connection to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg for decision.

2. What is the reason for the prohibition of portion-packed snus and why was it until last year permitted loose snus to be driven out?

Since October 2002 is also the selling forbidden by loose snus in EU. The reason why only loose snus for some years after the European Union selling prohibition of mouth tobacco – in 1992 for portionierten and loose snus – issues; to be driven out it could was that the authorities regarded the loose snus as a traditional product and therefore against the selling did not intervene.

3. How is it possible that one sees humans, who use snus in EU still?

In EU the sales of snus was forbidden, however further use is permitted. Since snus is still freely for sale in Sweden, Norway and Slovenia, snuser can buy there snus products. Snus is sold also legally in many airport Duty Free Shops and on ferries in Scandinavien. Consumers could also have ordered the snus by Mail order in Sweden directly.

4. What is the difference between snus and the traditional smokeless tobacco?

The largest differences are the appearance and the taste. Swedish snus is a damp to halfdamp, gemahlenes mouth tobacco product, which is placed under the upper lip. Swedish snus gives it in two different packing, draws to snus and portion-packed snus. Both forms are available in different taste. Swedish snus is made of selected, mainly air-dried tobacco places, water, salt and taste additives.
The traditional smokeless tobacco is normally a piece leaf or pressed together tobacco, which is soaked with a sweet coat. Traditional smokeless has another taste than snus, there different raw tobacco places and taste flavours as well as another production process, to be used.

5. Is it true that snus contains glass fragments, in order to achieve a faster nicotine effect?

Swedish snus does not contain glass and this also never did. Nicotine relatively fast over the mouth mucous membranes is taken up, similarly as when using nicotine plasters, which are used for the smoke curing, with which nicotine by the skin taken up. Snus contains salt and that can be the cause why it gives a prick in the palate.

6. Is snus a drug and can snus be used as doping?

Nicotine is classified as drug, is however legal. Nicotine, which with concentrations of 8 mg are contained in Swedish snus, have clearly provable effects on the central nervous system. Nicotine is not classified as doping.

7. Causes snus cancer?

Four independent Swedish cancer studies over use og snus determined no connection with cancer. This means that no increased cancer risk exists for snus users. This does not mean however that individual snus users cannot get cancer.

Snus faq