Tag: Sweden

Stingfree Launched in Sweden

Photo: Sting Free
Sting Free modern oral nicotine pouches have been launched in Sweden.
The Stingfree technology reduces the burning sensation and irritation on the gums, which is typical of regular snus and oral nicotine products, according to a press release. Several e-commerce distributors and stores are now selling the first product in an upcoming series of tobacco-free nicotine pouches with different flavors and strengths.
Several studies have shown that many snus users suffer damage to and changes to the gums, especially where the pouches are in direct contact with the gums. The U.S./EU patented Stingfree technology aims to counteract this and the associated burning/irritating sensation by having an impermeable barrier on the gum side of the pouch. A high percentage of snus users dislike when nicotine pouches and snus stings/burns and irritates the gums. This has been established by Sting Free AB in a comprehensive survey in 2022, with responses from over 1,000 Swedish snus users (of which almost 40 percent were women). Of the respondents, 67 percent of the women considered that the burning/stinging sensation, regardless of when it stings, is unpleasant as did 53 percent of the men. Almost 50 percent of the respondents had had oral health problems pointed out by their dentists linked to their use of snus/nicotine pouches.
A recent survey of U.S. females investigated why the use of smokeless tobacco products like nicotine pouches and snus is so much lower among women compared to men. A main factor concluded from the responses was the burning sensation and oral irritation caused by these products, with comments such as “irritation,” “burn,” “hurts my gums,” etc. Other factors were “negative stereotypes about smokeless users,” “deadly misconceptions” that smokeless products are more dangerous than e-cigarettes and smoking and the unfamiliar mode of delivery.
Sting Free AB’s vision is that the Stingfree technology will become a new industry standard for nicotine pouches and traditional smokeless tobacco products like snus and that customers in the future will be asked the question, “Regular or sting-free?” when they buy such products. The company also hopes that the technology will contribute to more smokers opting out of smoking in favor of significantly less dangerous nicotine pouches.
April 14, 2023
Sweden Approaching ‘Smoke-Free’ Status
Photo: sezerozger
Smoking prevalence is poised to drop below 5 percent in the coming months in Sweden—a level that would make the country “smoke-free,” according to a commonly used definition.
No other country in the European Union is even close to replicating this achievement and none are currently on track to even achieve it by the EU’s target of 2040, in 17 years’ time.
Sweden’s groundbreaking strategy to minimize the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and save lives is detailed in a new report titled “The Swedish Experience: A roadmap for a smoke-free society,” presented March 14 at an international research seminar in Stockholm.
According to the report’s authors, Sweden’s approach, which combines tobacco control methods with harm minimization strategies, could save 3.5 million lives in the next decade if other EU countries adopt similar measures.
“Quitting smoking like Sweden saves lives,” said Anders Milton, one of the report’s authors, in a statement. “It has annually saved more than 3,400 lives in Sweden. If all other EU countries did as Sweden did, 3.5 million lives could be saved in the coming decade in the EU alone.”
The Swedish model combines recommendations in the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, including reducing the supply and demand of tobacco, banning smoking in certain places, but it adds an important element: accepting smoke-free products as less harmful alternatives.

Sweden has a very successful tobacco strategy that should be exported.
Karl Fagerström, co-author, “The Swedish Experience: A roadmap for a smoke-free society”
“It’s about combining tobacco control with harm minimization,” explained Delon Human, another of the report’s authors. “There are no risk-free tobacco products, but e-cigarettes, for example, are 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes. It is far better for a smoker to switch from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches than to continue smoking.”
The benefits of Sweden’s strategy are enormous, with the country having the lowest percentage of tobacco-related diseases in the EU and a 41 percent lower incidence of cancer than other European countries. The report also describes how the percentage of smokers in Sweden has dropped from 15 percent to 5.6 percent of the population in 15 years, putting it on track to achieve smoke-free status 17 years ahead of the EU’s 2040 target.
“Sweden has a very successful tobacco strategy that should be exported,” said Karl Fagerström, who also authored the report.
“It would be of enormous benefit to the world if more countries did as Sweden did with measures that reduce supply and demand while having differentiated tax rates that give smokers financial incentives to switch from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives,” Fagerström added.
The report was commissioned by Health Diplomats, an international organization working to improve access to healthcare, encourage innovation and the use of harm reduction to minimize the negative impact of alcohol, food, nicotine and drugs.
For countries looking to replicate the Swedish experience, the report offers the following recommendation:
Recognize smoke-free products as less harmful and that they pose significantly less risk than smoking. Encourage smokers to switch from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives.
Provide fact-based information. It is clear that there are no risk-free tobacco products. But, for example, e-cigarettes are 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes. Of course, it is better for a smoker to switch from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes, although it is not without risk.
Implement policy decisions that make smoke-free alternatives more accessible than cigarettes; for example, differentiated taxes that give smokers financial incentives to switch from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives.
The full report is available here: smokefreesweden.com/report_en.
March 14, 2023
EU Lawmaker Urges Snus Legalization

Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive
Johan Nissinen, a Swedish member of the European Parliament, has urged the EU to legalize snus, according to Snusforumet.
“Swedish snus and nicotine pouches are better options than cigarettes,” Nissinen said. “We can get rid of cigarettes once and for all thanks to snus and nicotine pouches. We need to highlight countries such as Sweden, but also Great Britain, where both Public Health England and the NHS [National Health Service] have encouraged citizens to use e-cigarettes instead of traditional combustible tobacco products to advance public health. It’s a further step in an already multi-year government health initiative aiming to make the U.K. completely smoke-free by 2030.”
“Sweden is proof of the public health advantages that come from embracing snus and nicotine pouches instead of cigarettes,” he said. “We need to do more to highlight the public health benefits. Sweden should also push to ensure the internal market is open for legal, equivalent products. If beer can be sold within the EU, wine should be too. If the sale of Coca-Cola is permitted, so must Pepsi, and so on. The same principle should apply to snus. If deadly cigarettes are permitted throughout the internal market, then a lower risk equivalent like snus should be as well.”
February 21, 2023
Sweden Approaching ‘Smoke-Free’ Goal

Delon Human | Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Smoking in Sweden has fallen to 5.6 percent, making Sweden the only European nation close to reaching the smoke-free goal set by the EU ahead of the 2040 target, Swedish authorities confirmed, according to BusinessWire.
According to participants in an event organized by the Oral Nicotine Commission in Stockholm, Sweden is about to become the first country in the world to be defined as “smoke-free,” representing a share of less than 5 percent of the population smoking.
Sweden’s smoking rates have plunged since the 1980s from 35 percent to below 6 percent. The next lowest smoking rate in Europe is double that of Sweden’s, with the EU average sitting around 23 percent, four times higher than in Sweden.
“If all smokers in the world, some 1.1 billion people, would switch to one of [the] less harmful alternative smoke-free, nicotine-based products, it could prevent disease and save millions of lives worldwide. Sweden has found the fire escape for smokers. We need to work together to repeat the Swedish experience globally to save lives,” said Delon Human, president of Health Diplomats and organizer of the Oral Nicotine Commission event.
“The upcoming Swedish EU presidency is a great opportunity to share their 5 percent success story to other EU countries,” said Karl Fagerstrom, professor, at the event. “We hope that Sweden will be generous with sharing this know-how internationally.”
Speakers at the conference emphasized the need for sound evidence-based policy interventions in tobacco control.
December 7, 2022
Snus Lovers up in Arms After EU Tax Proposal

Photo: Marko Hannula
Swedish snus lovers are up in arms after the publication of a leaked document suggesting the EU wants to force Sweden to raise the tax on snus by 200 percent.
The document, which was seen by the Swedish daily Aftonbladet, contains proposals for a new excise tax on tobacco.
If the plan becomes reality, the price of a can of portioned snus could increase by approximately SEK34 ($3.26). The price of a can of loose snus would increase by approximately SEK62 compared to today. A can of General loose snus would cost over SEK120 under the proposal.
Patrik Hildingsson, head of communications at Swedish Match, said that while Swedes are accustomed to high tax rates, the leaked EU proposal goes too far. He urged the Swedish government to make it clear to Brussels that Sweden alone regulates snus.
“Imagine if the EU decided to raise the tax on Italian Parma ham or German beer. This is basically the same thing,” Hildingsson was quoted as saying by Aftonbladet. “In the snus issue, the EU has chosen to disregard the principle of member state self-determination.”

“To dramatically increase the tax on snus will be a deadly blow to tobacco harm reduction and can make users go back to smoking.”
Bengt Wiberg, founder, EUforsnus
Meanwhile, snus advocates pointed to the health impact of snus, which is considerably less risky than other tobacco products.
“The Swedish Experience of snus has made Sweden almost smoke-free,” said Bengt Wiberg, founder of the EUforsnus international consumer group. “Daily smoking is now only 5 percent in Sweden as per the EU’s own Eurobarometer and thus Sweden has the lowest rate of all tobacco-caused cancers in Europe.
“To dramatically increase the tax on snus will be a deadly blow to tobacco harm reduction and can make users go back to smoking. I am sure the Swedish liberal/conservative government will even consider using its veto right within EU to stop this proposal.”
Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson indicated she would oppose the proposed tax hikes.
While snus is banned in the EU, Sweden obtained an exemption on cultural grounds when it joined the union in 1995. In the following years, however, the EU has made several attempts to restrict snus sales in Sweden, according to Aftonbladet.
The recent leaked proposal is scheduled to be published in early December. It must then be discussed and decided by the EU member states.
November 27, 2022
Sweden: Lawmakers Reject Vape Flavor Ban

Photo: WDnet Studio
Sweden’s Parliament, the Riksdag, rejected a ban on sales of flavored vaping products, with 177 lawmakers voting against the proposal and 126 lawmakers voting in favor, reports Vaping360.
Introduced by the government’s Ministry of Social Affairs in late February, the new rules would have taken effect next January, and would have prohibited flavors other than tobacco in all e-liquid, including zero-nicotine vape juice.
In rejecting the proposal, lawmakers heeded the advice of the Riksdag’s social affairs committee, which had recommended adopting proposed regulations for nicotine pouches and synthetic nicotine but eliminating the flavor ban.
Seven other European countries have banned non-tobacco vape flavors. In Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary and Ukraine, flavored vape restrictions are currently in place. Lithuania’s flavor ban will take effect July 1. In the Netherlands, the flavor prohibition scheduled to begin in July has been postponed until January 2023.
No European country has banned vaping products outright.
June 22, 2022
Vapers Petition Lawmakers to Stop Swedish Flavor Ban

WVA Director Michael Landl holds an open letter to the Swedish parliament about the benefits of vape flavors. (Photo: WVA)
The global vaping advocacy group World Vapers Alliance (WVA) on May 24 delivered an open letter to the Swedish parliament urging policymakers to stop a pending ban on flavors
A day later, the WVA marched in front of the Parliament with the slogan “Flavours help smokers quit” and urged lawmakers to vote against the ban.
Earlier this year, the Swedish government introduced a bill that would prohibit all non-tobacco vape flavors in nicotine and non-nicotine products. If approved, the bill is set to enter into force on Jan. 1, 2023.
“I benefited firsthand from vaping and managed to stay smokefree for the last few years,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA, in a statement. “Like most other smokers, I tried to find a way out of cigarettes—but nothing worked for me—the patches, the gums, the inhalers. Vaping—and especially combined with flavors—was my savior. And like me there are millions around the world who are healthier and lead a better life because of vaping.”
According to Landl, the ban on vape flavors will have disastrous consequences on public health:
“According to Yale School of Public Health, vaping flavored e-cigarettes are associated with a 230 percent increase in the odds of adult smoking cessation,” he said. “If vape flavors were banned, more than 150.000 swedes could be pushed back to smoking, which goes against any public health authority.”
May 27, 2022
Sweden Wants to Prohibit Flavored Vapes

The Swedish government has proposed a ban on nontobacco-flavored vapes, including menthol, according to Vaping360.
The proposed law includes nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquid and regulates all synthetic nicotine products, setting the purchase age to 18. If the law is passed, the sale of flavored vape products will be banned effective Jan. 1, 2023.
The bill is currently being reviewed by the Council on Legislation, which considers the legal validity of proposed bills before they are considered by legislators. Parliament will vote on the bill as early as March 22.
If the bill is passed, Sweden will be the eighth European country to prohibit flavors, following Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
March 4, 2022
Crows Trained to Pick up Cigarette Butts

Photo: Eric Isselée
A Swedish company is deploying crows to pick up discarded cigarette butts from the streets and squares of a town near Stockholm as part of a cost-cutting drive, reports The Guardian.
The wild birds receive a little food for every butt that they deposit in a customized machine.
Christian Günther-Hanssen, the founder of Corvid Cleaning, the company behind the method, estimates that his method could save at least 75 percent of the costs associated with picking up cigarette butts in the city.
More than 1 billion cigarette butts are left on Sweden’s streets each year, representing 62 percent of all litter, according to The Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation says that. Södertälje spends SEK 20 million ($2.19 million) on street cleaning.
Södertälje is carrying out a pilot project before potentially rolling out the operation across the city, with the health of the birds being the key consideration given the type of waste involved.
New Caledonian crows, a member of the corvid family of birds, are as good at reasoning as a human seven-year-old, research has suggested, making them the smartest birds for the job.
“They are easier to teach and there is also a higher chance of them learning from each other,” said Günther-Hanssen. “At the same time, there’s a lower risk of them mistakenly eating any rubbish.
Tomas Thernström, a waste strategist at Södertälje municipality, said the potential of the pilot depended on financing.
“It would be interesting to see if this could work in other environments as well. Also from the perspective that we can teach crows to pick up cigarette butts, but we can’t teach people not to throw them on the ground. That’s an interesting thought,” he said.
February 4, 2022
Smokeless making headway
Swedish Match’s volume shipments of snus in Scandinavia during the 12 months to the end of December, at 263.4 million cans, were increased by six percent on those of the year to the end of December 2017, 247.6 million cans.
But despite the volume increase, SM’s share of Sweden’s snus market fell by 2.3 percentage points, from 65.7 percent during 2017 to 63.4 percent during 2018. And it’s share of Norway’s snus market fell by 0.8 of a percentage point to 51.3 percent.
Meanwhile, SM’s volume shipments of moist snuff on the US market during 2018, at 126.3 million cans were down by one percent on those of 2017, 127.4 million cans.
Also in the US, the company’s volume shipments of cigars in 2018, at 1,703 million, were increased by five percent on those of 2017, 1,629 million.
But, during the same period, volume shipments of chewing tobacco, excluding contract manufacturing volumes, at 6,093,000 pounds, were down by four percent from 6,341,000 lb.
SM’s worldwide shipments of matches during 2018, at 64.5 billion sticks, were down by one percent on those of 2017, 65.0 billion sticks.
During the same period, worldwide shipments of lighters fell by nine percent from 368.1 million to 333.9 million.
In announcing its results, SM said that, in local currencies, sales had increased by seven percent for the fourth quarter and by nine percent for the full year. Reported sales had increased by 12 percent to SEK3,301 million for the fourth quarter and by 10 percent to SEK12,966 million for the full year.
In local currencies, operating profit from product segments (excluding larger one-off items and other operations) increased by eight percent for the fourth quarter and by 12 percent for the full year. Reported operating profit from product segments increased by 14 percent to SEK1,246 million for the fourth quarter and by 14 percent to SEK4,936 million for the full year.
Operating profit amounted to SEK1,196 million for the fourth quarter and to SEK4,812 million for the full year.
Profit after tax amounted to SEK925 million for the fourth quarter and to SEK3,578 million for the full year.
Earnings per share increased by six percent to SEK5.41 for the fourth quarter and by nine percent to SEK20.63 for the full year. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 28 percent to SEK5.41 for the fourth quarter and by 26 percent to SEK20.63 for the full year.
In commenting on the results, CEO Lars Dahlgren (pictured) said 2018 had been a successful year for Swedish Match with very healthy growth in sales and operating profit from product segments. “While our base businesses in our two largest product segments performed well, our growth initiatives continued to demonstrate very promising developments, with exceptional momentum for ZYN in the US,” he said.
“More and more, we see evidence of a trend where the global consumption of nicotine products is shifting away from traditional combustible cigarettes, and the best alternatives to cigarettes lie in smokeless products.
“While we continue to believe that the global regulatory stance towards smokeless products is disproportionate given the role that such products can play in harm reduction, we are encouraged to see positive regulatory developments in the smokeless arena and our strategy and focus position us well to compete in pursuit of our vision.”
February 14, 2019