Information about Swedish Match`s open and secret lobbying practices to lift the snus ban can be found at: Snus usually contains nicotine, which leads to nicotine addiction. [6] The chemical constituents of different types of snus vary, and population-level studies suggest that disease risks also vary. [7] Europe has a high smoking rate, with 15 countries ranking among the top 20 countries in the world for smoking per capita. This is reflected in statistics on the number of lung cancer deaths in the EU. [32] At 34 per 100,000 population. Men aged 50 to 54 are over-represented in lung cancer deaths. In Sweden, where smoking is relatively rare, the number of deaths from lung cancer is 14 per 100,000 inhabitants. One conclusion is that this is the result of a long tradition of snus in the country. It is therefore possible that replacing cigarettes with snus could save lives. However, snus is addictive and has been linked to various types of oral cancer, making a policy of replacing tobacco with snus problematic to say the least. [33] One of the proponents of the use of snus for harm reduction is Karl Fagerström, who holds a PhD in psychology and is considered a leading researcher in the field of smoking cessation in Sweden. Some research available today shows that the use of snus reduces or eliminates the risk of cancer associated with the use of other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco (the type used primarily in the United States and Canada and produced in a similar process to cigarette tobacco) and cigarettes.

[45] The widespread use of “snus” by Swedish men (estimated at 30% of Swedish male ex-smokers), which replaces smoking and other types of snuff, is thought to be responsible for the fact that tobacco-related mortality among men is significantly lower in Sweden than in any other European country. On the other hand, as women traditionally use less snus, their rate of tobacco-related deaths in Sweden can be compared to that of other European countries. Scandinavian snus is regularly available refrigerated in smoking rooms and some gas stations in the United States, especially in major cities. Sweet and significantly different American snus is most commonly found in convenience stores, in several brands made by American cigarette manufacturers. Neither product category significantly improved the market share of tobacco products distributed in this country. This tendency to use snuff in the nose spread to Sweden in the early 17th century. In the 18th century, Swedish producers began to produce wet snuff, which was placed in the upper lip and did not need to be spit out. It became known as snus.

Ettan (meaning “number one”), registered in 1822, is the oldest brand of snus still sold. One of Sweden`s most vocal politicians who campaigned against the snus ban was Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling between 2007 and 2014. Shortly before the end of the public consultation, she wrote a letter to her “colleagues” inviting them to participate in the consultation in favour of lifting the ban on “snus” and referred her colleagues to a website (www.sweden.gov.se/snus) set up by the Swedish government to explain why “snus” should be legalized.22 This website is no longer active (access attempt in April 2015). However, a growing consensus among researchers on smoking cessation has revealed that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products have limited efficacy because tobacco users may seek the combination of MAO inhibitors (found in tobacco) and nicotine, or NRT products may not provide adequate amounts of nicotine. The MAO inhibitors in tobacco enhance the rewarding effects of nicotine, but can also act as a form of self-medication for people with depression. This could explain the link between mental illness and smoking, but a confusing variable is that chronic nicotine administration itself has been shown to desensitize nicotine receptors over time and lead to antidepressant effects. [51] Quitting smoking itself is strongly associated with reduced depression, anxiety and stress, as well as improved positive mood and quality of life compared to continuing smoking. [52] It has been hypothesized that the success of snus compared to conventional NRT as a cigarette substitute is due to its MAO-inhibiting properties. However, studies suggest that tobacco must be pyrolyzed for MAO inhibition (i.e. as in cigarettes, cigars and pipes). The competing theory is that the success of snus as an alternative to smoking is due to its ability to deliver nicotine similar to that acquired by cigarettes and twice as high as that acquired by NRT. [53] In addition, as with cigarettes, the use of snus offers a choice of brands, aesthetic consumption rituals and tobacco tastes and therefore has sensory effects that NRT products may lack.

Daily use of snus to quit smoking had a 54% success rate for complete abstinence and a 60% success rate for a sharp reduction in cigarette consumption. [54] In the 16th century, snuff, the forerunner of snus (wet tobacco), was introduced in France by the French diplomat Jean Nicot, who worked at the court of King Henry II of France. He recommended Catherine de Medici snuff as a remedy for migraine. When she became a regular consumer of snuff, it became a fad among French citizens and the upper class, especially among women, as it was considered more socially acceptable than other forms of tobacco. R. J. Reynolds has also submitted an MRTP application to the FDA for his Camel snus product. As of May 2018, the FDA had not yet issued a decision. [38] A 2014 report on e-cigarettes commissioned by Public Health England concluded that snus has a risk profile that includes possible increases in the risk of esophageal and pancreatic cancer. The report noted that snus consumption is not associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, but with an increased risk of dying from one if a person has one. The report also concluded that there is no increased risk of COPD or lung cancer.

[35] Although Swedish snus was previously only available by mail order in the United States, more and more tobacconists began stockpiling it. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, as well as American Snuff Company, now produce Americanized versions under the Camel Snus, Grizzly Snus and Skoal Snus brands (R.J. Reynolds previously producing snus under the Marlboro brand). [ref. needed] Although American snus is packaged in the same way (wet tobacco in a small bag), the production methods differ significantly from traditional Swedish methods. In addition, differences in the formulation of U.S. snus may reduce some of its potential health benefits compared to other tobacco products. [18] Swedish Match, the leading Swedish snus manufacturer, is currently testing snus in Canada, Russia and several parts of the United States.

Nevertheless, the proposed ban led to the creation of the ESTOC in 1989, which was jointly founded by UST and Swedish Match “to promote understanding of the smokeless tobacco industry and its products and dialogue with retailers, media, regulators and/or advisory bodies”.910 Although little evidence of active lobbying by ESTOC has been found, internal tobacco industry documents show that the Confederation of Cigarette Manufacturers of the European Community (CECCM) briefly lobbied European Union members. Parliament`s Committee on Legal Affairs to encourage them to review the legality of the labelling directive, given that Article 100a is an invalid legal basis for banning a tobacco product.