EU NNA's snus ban challenge at the High Court

[Jessica99]

New Nicotine Alliance goes to the High Court to challenge the ban on snus

The NNA is going to the High Court on 26th January to ask for permission to act as an independent intervenor in the Swedish Match application to challenge the ban on snus. The case is brought against the UK implementing law, Regulation 17 of the tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which bans snus. UK law implements the EU law (TPD) so if the court decides there is a case it then goes to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

NNA is asking the Court to be allowed to make its own submission in order to provide a consumer perspective on the ban and of the benefits that will follow if the ban is lifted.
There’s a lot more detail on this in NNA’s blog post, here:
NNA goes to the High Court to challenge the ban on snus - New Nicotine Alliance UK

 

[Jessica99]

Professor Gerry Stimson, Chair of the NNA, has just written this FAQ on snus:

Snus facts

Is snus an appropriate and acceptable harm reduction product?
Snus fulfils the criteria for a tobacco harm reduction product. It is a low risk way of using nicotine and delivers acceptable doses to those who use it. In countries in which it is allowed it is popular and has contributed to declines in smoking and smoking related diseases.

What is snus?
Snus is a moist, smokeless powdered tobacco. It is sold as a loose powder or pre-packaged in a small sachet (a bit like a mini tea bag). It contains ground tobacco, salt and may contain food-grade smoke aroma flavourings, such as citrus, bergamot, juniper, herb or floral flavours. Most Scandinavian snus is produced in Sweden where it is regulated as food under the Swedish Food Act. The nicotine content varies among brands.

How does snus differ from other oral tobaccos?
Snus is a smokeless tobacco. Unlike some other smokeless tobacco types, Swedish snus is not fermented and is pasteurised, which inhibits the growth of bacteria that help the formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (an important group of carcinogens in tobacco products). Snus is refrigerated in order to inhibit the growth of toxins.

How is snus used?
Snus is placed between the upper lip and gum. The nicotine is released into the saliva, with the rate of release affected by the amount of saliva. New users experiment (titrate) to find the best rate of nicotine release. How to Use Snus

Is there a quality standard for snus?
The Gothiatek standard, a voluntary quality standard for snus products, has been introduced. This has maximum levels for constituents, including nitrosamines, metals, nitrite, agrochemicals, mycotoxins and aldehydes.

Is snus safe and are there any long-term health effects?
Recent reviews suggest that snus is considered by scientists as 95%, and possibly closer to 99%, less risky than smoking.

You can read more here: Snus facts - New Nicotine Alliance UK

 

[Jessica99]

Statement from Professor Gerry Stimson, NNA chair:

NNA wins the right to challenge the snus ban, 26 January 2017

The High Court today decided that the legal challenge against the snus ban
can be referred to the European Court of Justice. Swedish Match brought
the challenge. The Court ruled that NNA can join the case. NNA is fighting
for the right of access to lower risk nicotine products.

 

[Jessica99]

NNA's two media releases from today - in reverse order:

Snus ban challenge, NNA media releases, 26th January 2017 - New Nicotine Alliance UK

 

[dampfan]

the ban on snus.

another lunacy of the EU TPD2 ....
it is scientifically very good proved that snus is much less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.
Sweden has good statistics about cancer and so on.
Sweden has percentally much less lung and throat cancer cases as other european countries where snus is not as wide spread as in Sweden.
reason enough to ban snus.
our pooooooor pharmaceutical industry trusts might lose some income on cancer medication ....
the welfare of big pharma and their share holders is much more important than some 1,000s human lifes!
face the facts!

sorry for the rant, but if madness and corruption reigns, it drives me mad.