Sweden’s trade minister said on Friday that she wants the EU to lift its ban on the export of Swedish Snus to the rest of the EU.

Eva Björling said the ban is discriminatory because cigarettes, cigars and chewable tobacco are not covered by it. Writing in the tabloid, "Aftonbladet", the trade minister said the snus ban is as unfair as any ban on Danish ham or French wine would be, as the product is distinctly Swedish. She has also written to the EU trade commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, asking him to review the issue.
Meanwhile, Swedish Match, the biggest snus producer, welcomed the government’s decision to try and have the export ban lifted and views it as an important step in normalising trade in the EU. The company said the government’s call on the Commission is in the interests of Swedish trade, and is, in principle, important, but it is concerned that a review of existing regulations could become a drawn-out process. The company urged the Swedish government to actively pursue a phasing out of the export ban.
Snus is moist tobacco snuff which users put under their top lips instead of smoking. Health concerns are the reason for the ban in the rest of the EU. There are fears it can cause cancer, but there is no scientific consensus that it actually does.
Sweden negotiated a special deal to allow the use of snus when it joined the EU in 1995.  (pi)