France Set to Lead EU Crackdown on Snus as Regulations Loom
PARIS – France is poised to spearhead stricter european Union regulations on snus, a smokeless tobacco product, perhaps setting the standard for a forthcoming EU-wide bill. Currently, “brown snus” is prohibited throughout the EU, with Sweden holding a unique exemption for sales. However, the rapidly growing popularity of “white snus” – currently unregulated across the bloc – has prompted the EU to consider new legislation.
The impending EU regulations, details of which remain unclear, are expected to largely mirror France’s existing approach to snus. This comes as public health officials express concern over the rising use of these products, especially among young people. Sweden, which boasts the lowest smoking rate in europe at 8% (compared to 24% across Europe and 27% in France), attributes this success in part to the availability of snus as a less harmful option to cigarettes. The Swedish argument centers on the belief that encouraging smokers to switch to snus benefits public health.
EU lawmakers are currently drafting a bill to regulate white snus, with France’s legislative stance likely to heavily influence the final outcome. There is currently no common regulatory framework for white snus within the EU.
Source: Eurobarometer 539
