On July 8, Sweden’s Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson took to X (formerly Twitter) to sound the alarm over the new tobacco directive reportedly being prepared by the European Commission. The directive includes a dramatic tax increase on nicotine pouches – but what’s also raising concern is that the tax revenue would no longer go to […]

Australia is regarded by many as a role model in tobacco control, with sharply declining smoking rates and ambitious public health goals. However, the country’s recent strategic shift has sparked both national and international criticism. Dramatically increased tobacco taxes and a total ban on vapes have resulted in a range of negative consequences, including a […]

At last Friday’s EPSCO meeting, several EU Member States – including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, Sweden, and Bulgaria – raised clear concerns about the European Commission’s direction on future tobacco legislation. Three Key Messages from Member States The Member States delivered a coordinated set of messages, centered on the following points: Health is […]

A leaked document from the EU Commission now proposes massive tax hikes on nicotine pouches, vapes, and heat-not-burn products. The proposal is set to be announced to the Council on July 19. The Commission claims it’s all about health, but Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Pouch Patrol, sees it differently: “The proposal is punishing […]

The EU is preparing to crack down hard on nicotine pouches and other smoke-free nicotine products. A majority of member states now want the European Commission to revive an old proposal to introduce common minimum taxes on tobacco and nicotine products – and for the first time, nicotine pouches are included. What does this mean […]

France is planning a nationwide ban on tobacco-free nicotine pouches. Now Sweden is responding forcefully.  – We’re standing up for our snus users and for free trade within the EU, said Benjamin Dousa, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. What’s at stake? France has announced its intent to ban nicotine pouches – […]

The Swedish government has formally opposed Spain’s proposal to impose a 0.99 mg nicotine limit per pouch – a move that would effectively ban the sale of most nicotine pouches in the Spanish market. In a detailed opinion submitted under the EU’s notification procedure, Sweden argues that the measure is disproportionate and lacks scientific justification. […]

Nicotine pouches have recently come under scrutiny in public debate, often with a focus on their nicotine content. But as Nicoleaks rightly points out, it’s essential to distinguish between how much nicotine a product contains and how much is actually absorbed by the body. At Pouch Patrol, we share that view – and want to […]

The European Commission, Sweden and Greece have raised several objections to a draft bill proposed by Luxembourg that would require the strength of nicotine pouches to be so low, as to be a de facto ban on the products. Severely limiting nicotine content Sweden has objected, saying that setting a ceiling of 0.048 mg nicotine […]

An internal European Commission document reveals that the EU plans to increase taxes on nicotine pouches by over 500%. If the proposal becomes reality, prices could rise by up to 70% for consumers across Europe – at a time when millions of smokers are looking for less harmful alternatives. Read the leaked EU document here. […]