The heysnus, a smokeless tobacco product that can be placed under the lip, has become very popular in Sweden and Norway. This has led to an increase in snus consumption and a decline in smoking of tobacco, with snus overtaking cigarettes in Sweden in 1996 and in Norway in 2006.

The scientific literature generally indicates that the use of snus does not increase the risk for lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes or oral mucosal lesions. However, snus use may be associated with a higher risk for developing diabetes and components of metabolic syndrome (such as high blood pressure). It is also reported that a few studies have found that the use of snus increases the incidence of certain non-neoplastic oral mucosal lesions, but that these lesions disappear rapidly once snus use has ceased.

Understanding Snus: A Comprehensive Guide

In addition, several studies have shown that snus has the potential to be an effective aid for smoking reduction and cessation. However, further research is required to verify these claims.

POLITICO interviewed Nystrom and two other speakers at a meeting in the European Parliament last October, called Nicotine and Society: Ahead of TPD3. That event was organized by the Brussels Times newspaper and sponsored by the Stockholm-based think tank Environment and Public Health Institute (EPHI). EPHI didn’t respond to requests from POLITICO asking if it accepted money from the tobacco industry. The three MEPs, Tomislav Sokol of the EPP group, Sara Skyttedal of the ECR group and Johan Nissinen of the ECR group, all spoke about their own experiences with snus, which is legal in their home countries of Sweden and Norway.