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Growing Use of Smokeless Tobacco

The use of snus, or Swedish snuff, has been on the rise in Finland, even though its sale is banned in the country. The Swedish-language newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet reported on Sunday that 6.8 million tins of snus were brought into Finland last year, about a million more than in 2009.

Nuuskapurkkeja  pinossa ja kasassa.
Image: Jani Aarnio / Yle

The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira, expects that the volume of snus brought into the country will continue to grow this year, as well.

According to Valvira, one main reason for the increased popularity of snus is that smoking has been banned in so many places.

The sale of snus, a form of smokeless tobacco also known as Swedish snuff, was banned in mainland Finland in 1995. However, its use is not prohibited.

Sales of snus were banned in other parts of the EU in 1992. Sweden received an exemption from the EU sale ban on snus as a condition of its membership treaty in 1995. Loose snus can be sold in Denmark, but not snus packaged in portions for consumption.

Sources: YLE