No youth snus ban yet
timeline
In Salzburg there is a loophole in the law for a nicotine product that is particularly popular with young people as a stimulant: It is about “snus” (SNÜS). These nicotine pouches that you tuck under your upper lip are not covered by either the national tobacco law or youth protection laws.
The protection of minors is regulated by the federal states. While Vorarlberg is already presenting its own change in the law, Salzburg prefers to wait for a national solution. If the nationwide tobacco law changes, the new rules for nicotine pouches will automatically also apply to the Salzburg youth protection law.
The Ministry of Health has postponed the change several times this year – it is currently announced for January. One federal state that didn’t want to wait any longer is Vorarlberg. There is already an amendment to the Youth Protection Act to include the nicotine pouches in the text. The change can still be reviewed until November 4th.
Klambauer: “Wait for decision assessment”
In Salzburg, the regional councilor Andrea Klambauer (NEOS), who is responsible for the youth department, will wait for these results and then perhaps take action. “I will look at the assessment of this law and then, based on the opinions, decide whether we will adopt it for Salzburg in the corresponding state law. In principle, of course, a nationwide regulation would be more sensible and therefore correct,” says Klambauer.
The change in law aims to ban snus for under 18s. The nicotine pouches are filled with plant fibers and vaporized with nicotine. They contain no tobacco.