Sweden's strugle to keep its peculiar habit of oral tobacco

Cans of "snus"

Sweden has been a member of the EU since 1995. But did you know that one of the most contentious issues for the Swedes during the negotiations aside from the country's much vaunted neutrality - was whether or not Swede's would be allowed to keep their peculiar habit of snus - or oral tobacco. Now a decade on and smoking definitely out of favor - Snus is being marketed as smokeless tobacco and the question is whether it should be sold in other European Union member states. As Azariah Kiros explains, the Snus Empire wants to strike back.

The Snus War is in full swing. The question is whether snus, or Swedish snuff should be allowed in other European Union member states? As Azariah Kiros explains, the conclusions of a scientific group is being used as an ammunition by both supporters and opponents of snus to claim victory. Snus is a moist powder tobacco which is placed under the upper lip and squeezed to extract the tobacco juice, for extended periods of time.

Snus is manufactured and consumed primarily in Sweden and Norway although it has recently been introduced into other countries. Swedes who have developed the habit for the snus protect it jealously. But the European Union is not particularly excited by it.

Snus can be packed in bags, similar to tea ...

When Sweden joined the Union in 1995, Swedish authorities managed to get an exemption for the use of snus in Sweden alt! hough the product was banned in the rest of the Union. The company which produces snus, Swedish Match, has been promoting the product with the argument that snus is less dangerous than smoking.

So what is the future of snus? The European Commission set up a scientific committee in an effort to answer the question. Prof. Anders Ahlbom of Karolinska Institute, a member of the Scientific group explains the guidelines given to his Committee.

"One of them is whether or not Snus is linked to a health risk - which it is. It was asked if snus use is addictive - which it is. Then they asked us what we think would happen if snus was made available in the rest of Europe. Currently its only allowed in Sweden - its not allowed in the other European countries. So they asked if it would help to ! improve the public health if snus was made available. And the idea is that it would help people quit smoking cigarettes and the answer it that we don't have anything that indicates that anything would be better if snus was made freed from the ban in the rest of Europe."

But that is not what Swedish Match, the Swedish company which produces snus and other tobacco products, is concluding from the report. It says the EU Commission's scientific committee is united in its conclusions that snus is less dangerous than smoking. Prof. Lars Erik Qvist is medical spokesperson for Swedish Match.

"Up until now, the European health authorities have said that there is no scientific evidence that there are such tobacco products. But now in this report for the first time, a scientific committee has stated that there is such a product, that it is called "swedish Snus" and that it is much safer than cigarettes.”

So is snus less dangerous than smoking? The Scientific Committee says it is not arguing against the claim but that does not definitely mean switching from cigarettes to snus entails less health risk.

“One person switching to snuff - that will probably help that person but - it is much more complex than that. You have an unknown number of former smokers who are now snus users in Sweden. And you also have a number of snus users who have never been smokers. And they would have been free from nicotine had snus not been available."

But the Swedish tobacco company says there is enough data to prove that snus less harmful than cigarettes and what is needed is not a fight over statistics but to work out a European-wide plan of action against the repercussion of tobacco use. Prof. Lars Erik Qvist of Swedish Match says what is important is that the EU Scientific Committee's conclusion that snus is a better alternative.

... or formed in hand into a ball, which is placed between the gum and lip.

"It is true that snus contains nicotine, and it is therefore addictive - yes that it true its no news. And its true you cannot exclude the possibility of health effects. But an independent committee concluded unanimously that Swedish snus is much less risky than cigarettes and that is a new conclusion - that has never been concluded by a scientific committee in the European Union before."

“But there never has been doubt that it is less dangerous than cigarette smoking - almost everything is less dangerous than cigarette smoking...so that is of course also the case with snus use.”

Why has the snus debate proved so controversial? The question goes first to Prof. Anders Ahlbom of the EU Scientific Committee.

“Simply because the tobacco industry is very interested in selling it. They have seen that smoking is less popular and they are looking for other products to sell. The whole thing (the study) was started by the tobacco industry to get rid of the ban in the rest of Europe. That is what is behind this recent work. And their argument is that snus is less dangerous than cigarettes, which is true but its not really the question."

And what does the tobacco industry have to say about that? Swedish Match medical spokesperson,Prof. Lars Erik Qvist.

"I think the controversy is because the anti-tobacco lobby has formulated its arguments 30 years ago that all tobacco is evil - all tobacco is deadly."

"Isn't it?"

"I don't think that all tobacco is evil. Swedish experience has shown that the availability of a much less risky alternative can prove to be very beneficial to public health. And the committee recognises the fact that the availability of snus has had an positive effect on public health - they say that."