Sweden Slams EU’s Snus Tax Plan: “Totally Unacceptable” 🇪🇺🚫

🧾 What’s going on?

A leaked German government report has revealed that the EU Commission is considering a new strategy to fund its next long-term budget (2028–2034) by introducing an EU-wide tax on tobacco products — and yes, this includes snus, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and vapes.

But Sweden is furious.

The plan would divert tax revenue from these products away from national governments and directly into the EU’s central budget. Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson has called it “completely unacceptable”, saying the EU has no business taxing products like snus, which are already tightly regulated in Sweden.

🇸🇪 Why is Sweden pushing back so hard?

1. National sovereignty: Sweden believes it should decide its own tax policies, especially for harm-reducing products like snus and nicotine pouches.

2. Snus saves lives: Sweden has the lowest daily smoking rate in the EU (~5%), thanks to widespread use of snus and nicotine pouches.

3. Massive price hike: The leaked proposal would increase taxes on nicotine pouches by up to 650%, which could raise the price of a single can by around 27 SEK (about €2.40).

Sweden argues that this tax proposal threatens the public health success it has worked hard to achieve.

🔥 What do key figures say?

• Elisabeth Svantesson (Finance Minister): “This proposal crosses a line. Tobacco tax revenues should stay in Sweden.”

• Patrik Strömer (Swedish Snus Manufacturers): Calls the plan a “direct attack” on Sweden’s public health model.

• Jessica Polfjärd (Swedish MEP): Says the proposal is unfair and promises to fight it in Parliament.

• Charlie Weimers (Sweden Democrats): Warns of a clash between Sweden’s harm-reduction strategy and the EU’s “anti-nicotine ideology.”

💬 What could this mean for you?

If the EU passes this tax, it could lead to:

• Higher prices on nicotine pouches and snus across Europe

• A shift back to cigarettes for some users

• More grey market activity and cross-border purchases

• Less freedom for countries to support harm reduction

Sweden says it’s ready to veto the tax directive if necessary.

✅ Snusmania’s take

We stand with Sweden.

Taxing harm-reducing products like snus and nicotine pouches at the same level as cigarettes is not just misguided — it’s dangerous. It punishes consumers who’ve made the healthier switch and threatens the success of one of Europe’s best public health stories.

At Snusmania, we support smarter nicotine regulation — based on risk, not revenue.