As recently as December 2011, it seemed that the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, might be coming to its senses with regard to its senseless ban on the export of Swedish snus to other EU countries. No such luck.
Snus, moist snuff contained in small sachets that are tucked under the upper lip, has been popular for decades in Sweden, and is most likely responsible for the country's low rate of smoking-related diseases. However, snus is banned in the rest of the EU, no doubt accounting for those countries' higher rates of cigarette smoking and related diseases. Now Sweden is abuzz with leaked news that the Commission's Health Directorate is considering a ban on all flavorings in tobacco products. This ban would amount to a de facto ban on snus, since its flavoring is what makes the taste palatable. Given that over one million Swedes use this reduced risk tobacco product, the country has responded with general outrage.
However, the European Commission's information leak may be a ploy, says Larry Waters, writing for SnusCentral.org, a website that compiles documents and media coverage on snus. Waters believes that this new, greater challenge to snus is being used to draw attention away from Sweden's interest in having the snus ban in the rest of the EU lifted. Ultimately, Waters predicts, the proposed ban on tobacco product flavoring will be defeated, the ban on snus in all other EU countries will continue and the status quo will be preserved.
Which is a tremendous shame, of course, since as we consistently note here in Dispatch a modified risk tobacco product like snus has the potential to help a lot of smokers otherwise doomed to remain addicted to cigarettes.