Despite clear political messages, there are concerns that Swedish officials do not share the government's view on smoke-free nicotine alternatives. This could affect the outcome of a revised tobacco convention being negotiated through the WHO in November.
"If a smoker can switch from smoking to nicotine pouches, we believe that is definitely a health benefit. Swedish officials representing Sweden should act on the basis of Swedish policy, I assume." says Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.
The Minister for Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, is concerned that an upcoming revision of the WHO Tobacco Convention may affect the availability of white snus and other smokeless nicotine products in Sweden. This comes after he commented on new information about the upcoming meeting on the Convention organised by the WHO in early November. Reports ahead of the meeting suggest that a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive could highlight strategies that include strong measures to reduce the availability of both white snus and e-cigarettes in retail outlets.
"Snus and nicotine pouches are not health products. When it comes to tobacco and harm reduction, this government has been clearer than previous governments. Swedish tobacco policy therefore aims to reduce the "medical and social harms" of smoking and not, as in the past, primarily to reduce total nicotine consumption. One of the ways we do this is by favouring smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes on the market." says Benjamin Dousa in an interview with the think tank EPHI.
Opposition from officials
But according to Benjamin Dousa, the meaning of harm reduction in the nicotine market has not really reached all officials. It is currently unclear how the Swedish delegation, which mainly consists of officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs, will deal with these issues.
"Even if we agree at the political level, there is resistance in the underground, especially at the level of civil servants and various organisations that are trying to change this direction. But when they represent Sweden at the meeting on the tobacco convention, I expect that to convey the government's view on the issue" says Benjamin Dousa in the podcast "Health for the unhealthy"
That there are clear differences in how the current government and officials at the Public Health Agency of Sweden view harm minimisation became clear in connection with consultation responses to the inquiry "A safe childhood without nicotine, alcohol and nitrous oxide". Recently, the Authority also emphasised the need to investigate a ban on teachers to use snus or nicotine pouches during working hours.
Recently the newly appointed Minister for Health was pressed, also responsible for ANDT issues, on the development of harm reduction policy and Sweden's position for the WHO meeting on the tobacco convention (COP11).
