Austria’s plans to restrict nicotine pouches threaten the principles and functioning of the European Union, claims Sweden’s trade minister, who has deployed “the toughest tool we have” to persuade Austria to reconsider. 

Austria has introduced a bill to impose stricter regulations on nicotine pouches. Among other things, it includes a ban on online sales, extensive reporting requirements, and new limits on nicotine levels.

According to the Swedish government, the proposal risks creating trade barriers within the EU. Therefore, Sweden has now submitted a detailed opinion to the European Commission. 

Commonly referred to in Sweden as white snus, tobacco-free nicotine pouches have become increasingly popular as well as an important export product for the country, alongside traditional tobacco “brown” snus.

Sweden’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, calls the move the “toughest tool” available for calling into question other member states’ legislative proposals before they come into force.

“The Swedish government stands up for snus,” Dousa said in a statement. 

“It is an important industry for Sweden, and many Swedes use snus.”

Restrictions a ‘worrying development’ 

Businesses in Sweden fear the proposal puts the principle of free movement of goods within the EU’s internal market at risk. According to a statement from the Swedish Food Federation (Livsmedelsföretagen), rules that restrict the sale of nicotine pouches could have significant consequences for trade between member states.

Patrik Strömer, Secretary General of the Association of Swedish Snus Manufacturers, sees the development as worrying.

“We are once again seeing how specific national rules risk creating barriers to trade in the EU’s internal market,” he tells Snusforumet.

“Even considering bans on products that are legally sold in other member states risks undermining the principle of free movement.”

Austria not the first EU country

This is not the first time Sweden has acted to defend nicotine portions in the EU. As Snusforumet has previously reported, Sweden’s government has reacted to similar initiatives in other member states, including Spain, believing that member state proposals amounted to internal market restrictions on nicotine pouches.

That Sweden is once again using the EU’s strongest tool demonstrates how important the issue has become for both Swedish exports and the ongoing debate about how nicotine products should be regulated within the EU.