Tobacco Act

The new Tobacco Act – actually called the "Tobacco and Similar Products Act" (“Lag om tobak och liknande produkter” in Swedish) – entered into force on 1 July 2019. It regulates, among other things, the sale, use and marketing of tobacco products in Sweden. The law covers everything from cigarettes and snus to e-cigarettes, and aims to reduce tobacco consumption and protect public health. In this article we look at what the new Tobacco Act means, what rules apply and what can be considered a breach of the Tobacco Act.

What is the Tobacco Act?

The Tobacco Act is a Swedish law that governs how tobacco products may be sold, marketed and used. The first Tobacco Act in Sweden was adopted in 1993. Since then, it has been updated several times, most recently in 2019, when the new Tobacco Act was introduced with stricter rules on smoking bans in public places and new rules that also cover e-cigarettes.

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Try IQOS ILUMA i for 60 days

Discover a better alternative by heating tobacco instead of burning it.

No smell of smoke

Heats tobacco & nicotine without burning it

No second-hand smoke and no ash

With IQOS there is no fire and therefore no smoke or ash follows - and no cleaning required, ever, with our latest ILUMA series!

Try IQOS ILUMA i

What is the age limit under the Tobacco Act?

The Tobacco Act sets an age limit of 18 years for buying tobacco products such as:

• Cigarettes
• Snuff
• Nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquids
• Other nicotine products

Tobacco sellers are obliged to check the age of the buyer. Selling to minors is an offence under the Tobacco Act, which can lead to a fine or the withdrawal of the sales licence.

Tobacco law in schools and workplaces

The Tobacco Act also covers schools and workplaces, where the rules aim to create a smoke-free environment.

• Tobacco law in schools - The use of all types of tobacco products is prohibited on school grounds and in premises where children and young people are present. This ban applies to both pupils and staff.
• Tobacco law in the workplace - Employers have the right to introduce smoke-free workplaces, and under the new Tobacco Act, smoking is banned in entrances and common areas.

What does the Tobacco Act say about snus?

Snus is covered by the Tobacco Act, but the rules are not as strict as for cigarettes. The sale of snus requires a licence and must not be marketed in a way that encourages its use. However, snus is not covered by the smoking ban in public places, which means that it is permitted to use snus in outdoor cafés, for example.

What does the Tobacco Act say about e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are now subject to the same legislation as traditional tobacco, which means that:

• The age limit is 18 years
• The ways of marketing the products are limited
• Sale of nicotine-containing e-liquids requires authorisation
• The smoking ban in public places also applies to e-cigarettes

What counts as a tobacco law offence?

Violations of the Tobacco Act can include, for example:

• Sales to persons under 18 years of age
• Selling tobacco without a licence
• Unauthorised advertising and promotion
• Breaking the smoking ban in public places

Companies or individuals who break the law can be fined, have their marketing authorisation withdrawn or be sentenced to prison if the offence is serious.