Swedish government presented tobacco lobby arguments as fact in EU dispute

The Swedish government cited tobacco industry claims as factual evidence when opposing a French and Spanish proposal to ban white snus, despite public health authorities rejecting those conclusions, Swedish Radio (SR) reports.

In 2025, Sweden formally protested the planned restrictions, arguing that a ban “risks having negative public health consequences.” The submission—prepared by the National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium)—claimed snus had a “documented harm-reduction effect” and that prohibiting it could “paradoxically undermine public health goals, particularly for adult smokers seeking alternatives to cigarettes.”

However, the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) disputed this stance. “There is nothing in the research showing that snus or white snus is an effective smoking cessation tool,” Josefin Päiviö Jonsson, the agency’s department head, told SR.

An investigation by Swedish Radio revealed the arguments originated from tobacco industry responses during a consultation process. The National Board of Trade acknowledged it should have scrutinised the submissions more thoroughly.

Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa (Moderate Party) defended the government’s position, stating: “If a smoker switches from cigarettes to white snus, that still represents a health gain. The reason Sweden has one of the lowest tobacco-related mortality rates in Europe is precisely because more people use snus and fewer smoke.”

The dispute follows data showing Swedes held the most meetings with tobacco lobbyists of any EU member state in 2025. France’s ban on white snus took effect in April 2026, with other countries considering similar measures.