EU

France has been flirting with the idea of banning oral nicotine, and on September 5, 2025, they made it official. Starting in March 2026, even having a can in your pocket when you step off the train could lead to hundreds of euros in fines, with much more severe penalties for importers and sellers. This […]

Now is your chance to make your voice heard! The European Commission has opened an eight-week feedback period on its proposal to revise the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED). By taxing tobacco, the aim is to reduce consumption and contribute to the EU’s plan to beat cancer. However, experiences from countries like soon-to-be smoke-free Sweden show […]

Today, an open letter was sent to the European Commission from more than 80 prominent scientists, doctors, and public health experts worldwide. The letter warns that the upcoming review of the Tobacco Excise Directive risks introducing new taxes on less harmful nicotine products – something that, according to the experts, would undermine the EU’s own […]

France has now submitted its written comments in response to other member states’ objections against prohibiting the sale of nicotine pouches by anyone outside the pharmaceutical industry. However, the French response is riddled with contradictions and disregards both scientific evidence and the positive experiences of other member states. Global consumer data are undeniable: most users […]

The EU Commission has proposed a common tax directive for tobacco and nicotine products. Pouch Patrol can already present Haypp Group’s consultation response to the Swedish Ministry of Finance. And the company – which represents more than a million nicotin pouches users – offers both criticism and praise for the proposal.   By taxing snus […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]