When the World Health Organization’s eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) on the tobacco convention concluded, it became clear that several issues, including nicotine pouches, were postponed for the future. There was no global ban, but neither was there a final position. These questions have now been deferred to the next COP in two years, […]

Despite weeks of intense negotiations in Brussels and a clear decision by the Member States not to include bans on new nicotine products in the EU’s mandate for COP11, the Danish Presidency and the European Commission are now pushing for sweeping restrictions at the WHO tobacco convention in Geneva. What is the Swedish delegation doing […]

Secret negotiations are currently taking place in Geneva regarding the future of nicotine pouches. These discussions are happening under the framework of the WHO’s FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) during the COP 11 conference. After the EU collectively agreed to allow nicotine pouches throughout the Union, Denmark, together with prohibition-driven Brazil, is now pushing […]

EU Member States have agreed not to push for bans on safer nicotine products at the WHO’s tobacco control summit, COP11. This decision comes after a large group of countries refused to accept the Commission’s original proposal, which included support for “strong regulation of ENDS/ENNDS and nicotine pouches, which could include a ban.”   “Ban” […]

As the EU now discusses sharply increased taxes on tobacco and nicotine products, the debate has become intense. According to an article in Politico, thousands of comments have poured in to the EU. An overwhelming majority express criticism of the tax hikes, using arguments such as risk reduction and concern about illegal trade. The article […]

EU health ministers have reached an historic agreement to tackle cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in Europe claimining more than1.7 million lives every year. Backed by the European Commission, the new plan includes a dedicated EU action plan for cardiovascular health, part of the wider Healthier Together initiative to fight non-communicable diseases. The goal […]

This November, delegates from over 180 countries will gather in Geneva for COP11: the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). It’s the world’s most influential tobacco policy summit. Over six days, member states debate and adopt positions on tobacco and nicotine regulation. These […]

On 25 October 2025, Sweden will become the first country in the EU to meet the World Health Organization’s definition of a smoke-free society – with fewer than five percent of the population smoking daily. This milestone is the result of a pragmatic public health strategy that prioritises access to smoke–free alternatives such as snus […]

Around the world, countries that regulate safer nicotine alternatives are seeing smoking rates fall. From Sweden’s snus legacy to the UK’s vaping-first strategy, the evidence is clear: people quit smoking when governments support harm reduction. But while many countries are refining their policies based on new evidence that alternatives work, the EU is preparing to […]

At the finance ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, Sweden’s Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson made a strong stand against the EU’s proposal for a drastic tax increase on nicotine pouches. Sweden remains firm on its principle: taxation should be based on the harm of the product – not political budget needs. The European Commission has put forward […]