Opinions
norway snus ONIK

Norway snus policy: ‘illogical and unrealistic’

Norway snus policy: ‘illogical and unrealistic’

Norway wants to become a nicotine-free society, yet has banned tobacco-free nicotine pouches, resulting in cross-border trade, smuggling, and lost tax revenue. Bjørn Magnus Bjørnstad, CEO of the Norwegian trade association ONIK, believes that Norway should fo...

Regulations
WHO EU COP11 nicotine pouches

COP11: Leaked EU doc ‘puts future of nicotine pouches in doubt’

COP11: Leaked EU doc ‘puts future of nicotine pouches in doubt’

A leaked European Commission document ahead of the upcoming WHO COP 11 has revealed that the EU plans to push for “strict regulation or bans” on all smoke-free nicotine products, a stance critics warn could be...

Regulations
France Spain Dousa pouch bans

Sweden launches new warnings to France, Spain over ‘absurd’ pouch bans

Sweden launches new warnings to France, Spain over ‘absurd’ pouch bans

In a last-ditch effort to protect nicotine pouch access in Europe, Sweden has fired off formal letters to both France and Spain, urging the countries to backtrack on nicotine pouch bans that risk turning Swedi...

Regulations

InterTabac 2025: Sweden shines as role model at world’s largest tobacco and nicotine fair

InterTabac 2025: Sweden shines as role model at world’s largest tobacco and nicotine fair

InterTabac in Dortmund showed an industry in transition. The fair confirmed a clear trend: the smoke-free segment is growing rapidly, with nicotine pouches at the forefront. Patrik Strömer, Secretary Genera...

Health
norden nordics

Why have smoking rates fallen so far in the Nordics?

Why have smoking rates fallen so far in the Nordics?

Smoking has dropped dramatically in the Nordic countries, especially compared to many other countries in the EU. But even in the Nordics, there is wide variation in how things look from country to country. Why...

Science

Most pouch consumers are former smokers, US study shows

Most pouch consumers are former smokers, US study shows

Nicotine pouches are more likely to serve as a tool for tobacco harm reduction and don’t appear to be the gateway into nicotine use that many fear, new research on pouch consumers from the United States shows....

Regulations

Top 5 flaws in France’s defence of disputed nicotine pouch ban

Top 5 flaws in France’s defence of disputed nicotine pouch ban

France has responded to objections from Sweden over the country's plans to ban nicotine pouches. But the defence delivered by France to the European Commission is sorely lacking. Here are five serious shortcom...

Opinions

Swedish politicians resist anti-nicotine dogma, embrace pragmatic progress

Swedish politicians resist anti-nicotine dogma, embrace pragmatic progress

As the EU wrestles with another round of tobacco policy reform amid a flurry of anti-nicotine propaganda, the debate about nicotine regulation shows no signs of letting up. In Sweden, however, where smoking ra...

Regulations

Spain resorts to ‘ideological’ defence of pouch ban proposal

Spain resorts to ‘ideological’ defence of pouch ban proposal

Spain has responded to Sweden’s detailed opinion opposing proposed restrictions on nicotine pouches in a reply marked by exaggerated claims and devoid of scientific rigour.  “This is ideological postur...