Information this weekend that the price of snus may increase significantly as a result of upcoming EU proposals has caused the Swedish snus feelings to swell considerably.
But assurances to the contrary are now coming from the EU Commission - at least when it comes to the traditional Swedish snus.
- Sweden has an exception since joining the EU regarding the sale of snus.
The proposal that we are working on right now will not change that situation because snus sales are not allowed outside of Sweden, explains Dan Ferrie, spokesman for tax affairs, at the EU Commission's daily press briefing in Brussels on Monday.
- Sweden will thus continue to have full freedom to set its tax rates and tariffs for snus, says Ferrie.
Draft leaked
A proposal to revise the EU's tobacco tax rules is expected on 7 December.
According to a draft seen by the Financial Times newspaper, it concerns, among other things, increased minimum taxes for ordinary cigarettes, but also for "newer" products such as e-cigarettes and tobacco that are heated, but not burned.