EU
An EU ban on the sale of Swedish Match’ snus, is valid, an adviser to the European Union’s top court said in early April 2018.
Snus is banned in all EU countries except for Sweden, which gained an exemption when joining the bloc in 1995.
Swedish Match had challenged a ban on the product in British courts, arguing that new scientific data had shown it to be less harmful than cigarettes. The case was then referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and the ECJ’s Advocate General, whose advice is usually followed by judges, said that the ban was valid. The ECJ will make a final decision in two to four months’ time.
According to Advocate General Henrik Saugmandsgaard Oe, “EU legislature did not exceed the limits of its discretion in concluding that lifting the prohibition on the placing on the market of tobacco for oral use could result in an overall increase in the harmful effects of tobacco within the EU.”
He added that he did not believe snus was being discriminated against, as there was a genuine concern by the legislator that the novelty factor of oral tobacco could entice young people to try it.
Swedish Match general counsel, Marie-Louise Heiman, said, “We are disappointed with the opinion and hope that the court will come to a different conclusion in its final ruling.”