Smoking prevalence, vaping laws, snus in Sweden

WHO smoking trend estimates, and Sweden's national Health Survey 2018, show that Sweden's daily smoking prevalence has been in decline since 2000 for both men and women. The The Eurobarometer survey (2017) showed that Sweden had the lowest smoking prevalence of any country in Europe (at 5%), however the national Health Survey 2018 estimated a higher rate of daily smoking, at 7% for both men and women. Smoked tobacco, as a form of nicotine delivery, has been displaced in Sweden by a type of pasteurised oral tobacco called snus, which is less harmful than combustible tobacco. The prevalence of snus use overtook the prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst men in 1996. Sweden is one of the few countries where the prevalence of daily smoking has previously been higher in women than in men, e.g. in 2004 daily smoking for women was 19% and 14% for men; in 2011 daily smoking was 12% for women and 10% for men according to the national survey.

Sweden abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014), except for where the regulation applies to snus. E-cigarettes are regulated in Sweden by the Act on Electronic Cigarettes and Refill Containers (2017/425), which came into force on 1st July 2017. E-cigarettes that contain tobacco are regulated by the Tobacco Act, while those classified as medical devices, drugs or hazardous substances are regulated by the Medicines Act (2015: 315), Medical Device Act (1993: 584), or Act (1999: 42) on the prohibition of certain hazardous goods. E-cigarettes must also comply with the Product Safety Act (2004: 451). High strength e-liquids with nicotine concentrations over 17 mg/ml are subject to a de facto ban in Sweden as they require permits which are unlikely to be granted. Cross border sales are legal. The prohibition of sponsorship of any kind, including of radio and television programs and TV product placement, is detailed in the Radio and Television Act (20101: 696). In January 2018, a tax on e-cigarette fluid of two krona (€0.2) per millilitre was announced. A new ban on vaping in public spaces will come into effect in July 2019. The ban will cover outdoor serving areas at cafes and restaurants, as well as public playgrounds, bus shelters and train platforms, sports arenas, and entrances to civic buildings.

There are no comments specific to snus in Sweden in the database.

The Tobacco Act—Law (1993:581) on tobacco (12 f §) transposes Article 19 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, which covers novel tobacco products and applies to heated tobacco products. Regulations cover reporting, notifications and health warning labels. The Public Health Agency of Sweden has regulatory authority over heated tobacco products. So far, this authority has not been exerted.

There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Sweden in the database.