The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR) believes that if a newly introduced bill on tobacco laws passes, it will mean an end to Icelandic snuff, or inhalable tobacco.
Laws regarding snuff are already fairly strict. Only snuff produced in Iceland can be distributed and sold here, and the importation of even small amounts of foreign snuff is against the law. RÚV now reports that a portion of a new tobacco bill would ban the importation, manufacture and sale of all flavoured or aromatic tobacco. Icelandic snuff has had flavours and perfumes added to it since its inception.
ÁTVR is displeased with the bill, pointing out that the sale of snuff has actually increased in the past year. In fact, the increase has gone from 11.7 tonnes sold in 2003 to 25.5 tonnes in 2010. At the same time, smoking has been on the wane.
Furthermore, they say, it has not been proven that nose tobacco is more dangerous than cigarettes or cigars. As such, they believe this may warrant looking into whether or not consumer fairness laws would be broken by such a regulation.
Actually inhaling nose tobacco is not a very common practice among Icelanders younger than middle-aged. However, it can and very often is used as mouth tobacco instead, which is particular popular among young males, and probably accounts for the rise in sales.
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