Sweden Will “Continue to Fight for Swedish Snus” in EU Tax Row

What has forced Sweden to take this stand?

A document recently shared with the German parliament suggests that the EU’s 2028–2034 budget could get a revenue boost from new taxes on items such as electronic waste and tobacco.

While the European Commission hasn’t officially confirmed this plan, it seems to be in line with calls from some EU countries to increase tobacco taxes.

As we highlighted in a recent article, the Commission’s proposal could see tax increases of over 800% on nicotine pouches.

This drastic tax increase could damage the progress being made across Europe on smokers switching from cigarettes to alternative nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches and vapes.

Sweden is joining Italy, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria in pushing back against this tax hike. Why?

Mainly to protect Swedish snus—the moist tobacco pouch that’s been banned in the EU since 1992 but is allowed in Sweden under a special exemption from its EU accession treaty—and tobacco-free nicotine pouches, known in Sweden as ‘white snus’.

Sweden points to its low smoking rate—just 5%—and declining smoking-related cancer rates as proof that its tobacco harm reduction approach is working, and that the availability and, importantly, the affordability of snus and nicotine pouches have contributed to this low smoking rate.

Minister Svantesson took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her concerns, warning that this proposal would lead to “a very significant tax increase on white snus.”

She also shared that she’s raised the issue with Wopke Hoekstra, the EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, and made it clear that she will “continue to fight for Swedish snus.”

Encouragingly, Sweden and other EU countries are standing up for sensible public health policy and preventing the EU from taxing alternative nicotine products out of existence.