Question to V2 concerning the recent developments in EU shipping of Snus.

[Mordred]

Hey guys,

Since we can't seem to get a straight answer out of SM, I would like to hear what you know about this story. From what I've heard, one web-store got shot down based on court order from Finland and shortly after, many other stores refused to ship to EU countries.

At first, this seemed to be because the shops were frightened that the same could happen to them, but it quickly became obvious that this concerned mostly SM products. For example, snus.de will ship non SM snus to the EU. Northerner will also ship non SM snus to the EU, but from their US warehouse. GN Tobacco even went and opened their own web store, selling their Odens snus to EU countries.

It would therefore seem that Swedish Match has issued "orders" to their retailers not to supply their snus to EU countries. Do you have any idea why they would do this?

Also, have you considered doing the same?

We would be grateful for any insight on this matter, as many of us would face fairly long trips to Sweden to get snus if this becomes a trend that other manufacturers follow.

Thank you

[muddyfunkstar]

Been thinking this as well. Will be interested to hear the response.

[Snusdog]

M,

I would Pm a copy of your OP to V2 with a link to this thread.

They might be more likely to see it that way.

I would love to hear what the 2Vs think on this matter as well

[chadizzy1]

I've talked to pretty much everybody from every company about this and it's a mess. This whole thing is a mess and this is only the beginning.

SM is not being "the bad guy" or trying to "cover their ass" by pulling their products from the EU.

One thing everyone has to understand is that there's a sort of "tobacco union" in the EU that they're a member of - along with the Vogels, JTI, F&L, not sure who else but I know those folks are. Here before too long, smokeless tobacco is going to go before the review board for the Tobacco Directive.

Picture it like this - you have a job promotion coming up. But before that big promotion you're going to have an interview. Would you like to go into that interview with a clear record, or with a blemish on your record? SM particularly has an eye on the EU (not just to sell their products through webstores) but to sell their products throughout the EU (the EU snus ban). In a way, they're looking at the big picture.

From what I've heard they didn't tell Northerner to stop shipping snus from the US to the EU. But I don't have confirmation on that from Northerner so maybe they'll step in and say something. Maybe Northerner did it just to be safe.

Whatever is going on will get worked out at some point in time - whether it's now or around the time the tobacco directive decision is going on. The EU is a BIG snus market, and it could get bigger assuming all these factors work out.

Just be patient.

[Mordred]

M,

I would Pm a copy of your OP to V2 with a link to this thread.

They might be more likely to see it that way.

I would love to hear what the 2Vs think on this matter as well

done.

[chadizzy1]

Sounds about right.