SWDEEN/UK: The world's second biggest tobacco company is calling for the European Union to end its ban on Swedish-style smokeless tobacco

Record ID: 564960

  • Title: SWDEEN/UK: The world's second biggest tobacco company is calling for the European Union to end its ban on Swedish-style smokeless tobacco
  • Date: 24th June 2006
  • Summary: EXTERIORS OF BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO'S (B.A.T.) LONDON HEADQUARTERS (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Health,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA8RRVWD3984IKQ4VI372HS096F
  • Story Text: The world's second biggest tobacco company is calling for the European Union to end its ban on Swedish-style snus, moist tobacco in a small sachet which is placed under the lip, because it is less harmful than cigarettes, according to independent research.
    British American Tobacco, or BAT, is investing heavily in the product and has spent the last year test-marketing snus in Sweden and South Africa under two of its best known international brand names.
    The EU banned snus use in 1992 as it was seen as encouraging smoking, but the Swedish government secured an exemption from the ban when the nation joined the EU in 1995 due to the popularity of the product throughout Sweden.
    Snus users in Stockholm say they are baffled that they are the only Europeans who can buy it.
    "I think it's kind of ridiculous since cigarettes is allowed. The health issues about snus is far less dangerous in my opinion than cigarettes and I can't really see why it is prohibited," said one snus user.
    Pronounced "snoos", the moist tobacco tucked between the top lip and the gum gives a strong nicotine buzz, but produces less saliva than chewing tobacco, making it more practical to use indoors as the user does not have to spit.
    "Of course its not good to snus but its helped me to stop smoking so if they should ban anything its cigarettes not snus," said another snus user.
    BAT say Sweden's snus use is linked to Sweden having the lowest cigarette consumption in Europe, and also having the lowest male lung cancer mortality rate in Europe and among the lowest male oral cancer mortality.
    Seventeen percent of Swedish males use snus compared to 12 percent of Swedish males who smoke.
    The Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at BAT, Doctor Adrian Payne, said the European Directive made sense in 1992, but not anymore. He says Sweden proves that changing tobacco use can have a real impact on public health.
    "When you look at the tobacco use in Sweden the total tobacco use is broadly comparable to many other countries in Europe but the difference is that most of the tobacco use is in snus or smokeless tobacco rather than combustible tobacco in cigarettes and then you find when you look at the figures that Sweden has one of the lowest rate of tobacco related mortality in Europe if not the world and also has a very low rate of mouth cancer too," he said.
    As tougher anti-smoking legislation is introduced across the continent, tobacco companies think Europe's governments may drive a trend to switch to smokeless tobacco products.
    When EU outsider Norway enforced a smoking ban in restaurants it saw sales of cigarettes drop while snus sales surged.
    Ireland became the first country to outlaw smoking in the work place.
    Italy, Malta, and Scotland have enacted similar laws and Spain, Belgium and England along with the rest of the UK are planning anti-smoking legislation.
    British anti-smoking campaign group 'Action on Smoking and Health', or ASH, want to see governments adopting harm reduction strategies to help those who cannot or will not stop using nicotine and say snus could help.
    "The quit message is still as strong as ever and we would like people to quit smoking but there will always be some people who don't want to quit or who can't quit and for those people we feel there should be an alternative source of nicotine so that they can satisfy that addiction without the risk of getting lung cancer or heart disease or other respiratory problems," said Amanda Sandford, research manager for ASH.
    ASH said they hope plans to ban smoking in the workplace in England will force many smokers to quit. When EU outsider Norway enforced a smoking ban in restaurants it saw sales of cigarettes drop while snus sales surged. Italy, Malta, Ireland and Scotland have also enacted similar laws and there are plans to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces in Spain, Belgium and England and Wales.
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