Sweden’s nicotine industry is still uncertain about upcoming requirements
Details of ingredient lists and design requirements will not be known until they actually come into effect on January 1, 2023
In February last year, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced plans for a ban on vape flavoring. The announcement surely surprised many, especially given that Sweden achieved smoke-free status in 2018 by approving the use of another nicotine alternative product. Naturally, experts and tobacco harm reduction groups railed against the ban, highlighting the repercussions it would have on ex-smokers.
Ultimately, local politicians voted against the ban. While new rules approved by Sweden’s Riksdag in June and entered into force on August 1 contain a number of tougher restrictions on the marketing and sale of tobacco-free nicotine products.
In general, the new measures for nicotine products have been easy for retailers to implement. They introduced clear marketing restrictions, age limits and warning labels on tobacco and nicotine products that had long supported by snuff manufacturers.
– For years, the industry has called on the Swedish government to update the tobacco legislation and regulate tobacco-free nicotine pouches, says Patrik Strömer, general secretary of the National Association of Swedish Snuff Manufacturers. “The new law is symbolically important and hopefully a first step in showing that Sweden recognizes the health benefits of smoke-free nicotine products.”
Questions about what the industry needs to meet the requirements remain
But given the uncertainty and lack of detail being revealed about new health warning requirements, concern remains. Among other things, tobacco-free nicotine products “may not be provided on the Swedish market if they do not meet certain product requirements. The requirements apply to content and design, product presentation, list of ingredients and health warnings.”
Still, the details of ingredient lists and design requirements won’t be known until they actually go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Other questions about what the industry must do to comply remain unanswered. – It is not immediately clear what applies. The industry has its own health warnings, but it is unclear whether they will also be approved in the future or whether the authority wants special wording, says Stromer. cited by the Snuff Forum.
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