The United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has reviewed the Swedish Match (SM) "pre-market tobacco application" (PMTA) for eight tobacco products (called "snus") and approved their continued sale in the U.S.
Snus are small sachets of milled moist snuff (tobacco) which supply nicotine to users. The American Council on Science and Health supports smoking cessation and harm reduction tools because nicotine is addictive and that is what has caused consumers to continue smoking dangerous cigarettes. A migration from cigarettes using nicotine harm reduction has been shown to save lives.
Epidemiological studies show that Swedish males (who consume the large majority of snus in that country) have the lowest rates of smoking and smoking-related illness and death in Europe. Other parts of the European Union, where snus is banned, have the highest rates of cigarette-related death and disability in the civilized world. Clearly, if the product would be a health benefit for American smokers also, it should be allowed. The FDA now agrees it reduces harm.
Using the evidence provided and the agreement by the FDA that it is less harmful than smoking, the company has also filed a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) application to change its label from reading This product is not a safe alternative to smoking, to No tobacco product is safe, but this product presents substantially lower risks to health than cigarettes.
